SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Korea Bizwire) — As the Korean Wave continues to attract record numbers of foreign visitors, South Korean retailers are ramping up tailored marketing to meet the growing demand for K-beauty, K-pop, and cultural experiences. According to industry data released on October 19, the number of foreign tourists visiting Korea reached 12.38 million between [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Korea Bizwire) — As the K-pop industry expands with a surge of new idol groups, clashes over fan culture symbols — from light stick designs to fandom names and official colors — are intensifying, exposing a deeper tension over ownership, originality, and identity in an increasingly globalized genre. While an unwritten rule [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 25 (Korea Bizwire) – Boy group Stray Kids has achieved double-million-seller status with its fourth full-length album, “Karma,” on the day of release, the group’s agency said Monday. JYP Entertainment said the album logged more than 2 million sales on Friday, immediately topping Hanteo’s weekly physical album chart and Circle Chart’s weekly retail [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 11 (Korea Bizwire) — Key of K-pop boy group SHINee is returning as a soloist with a bold, concept-driven project. For his third full-length solo album, “Hunter,” the singer embraces an “urban legend” theme in which the protagonist confronts his “other self.” It marks his first studio album since “Gasoline” in August 2022. [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — A recent Billboard survey reveals that while a significant share of U.S.-based K-pop fans are spending heavily on albums and merchandise, far fewer are attending live concerts—a disconnect shaped largely by geography and cost. According to the report titled “K-POP Fandom in the U.S.”, 41% of American K-pop fans spend [...]
SEOUL, July 25 (Korea Bizwire) — K-pop boy group Stray Kids will release their fourth full-length album, “Karma,” next month, JYP Entertainment said Friday. The album, set for a 1 p.m. release on Aug. 22, marks their first full-length project since the chart-topping “5-Star” in June 2023. To build anticipation, the agency unveiled a futuristic [...]
SEOUL, July 22 (Korea Bizwire) – K-pop boy group 1Verse officially debuted with its first single album, “The 1st Verse,” and a press showcase last week. For Seok, one of the five members and a North Korean defector, the moment still feels surreal. “I still can’t believe I’ve debuted as an idol,” Seok said with [...]
SEOUL, July 22(Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s K-pop industry is facing mounting concerns as both album exports and sales declined in the first half of 2025, signaling a broader slowdown in a market once considered resilient to global economic headwinds. Even Japan — historically K-pop’s strongest overseas market — saw reduced import volumes, prompting calls for [...]
SEOUL, July 21 (Korea Bizwire) — K-pop boy group Tomorrow X Together (TXT) on Monday returned with an album that delivers a heartfelt message about the importance of “being together.” “The Star Chapter: Together,” the band’s fourth full-length album, serves as the final installment of a two-part series that began with its seventh EP, “The [...]
SEOUL, June 20 (Korea Bizwire) — For the first time in K-pop history, idol groups featuring members who defected from North Korea are making their debut this summer. According to the music industry, the six-member boy band Be Boys became the first K-pop group to include a North Korean defector when it debuted Wednesday. Member [...]