State Champ Radio K-Pop
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Trending on Billboard
The holidays are right around the corner, which means everyone will be searching for the best gifts to give that special someone, whether that be your significant other or your kids. Our pick for the hottest gift of the season? KPop Demon Hunters merch, obviously.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
While you might be torn between HUNTR/X and their boy-band counterpart Saja Boys, the animated girl group’s success is undeniable. HUNTR/X’s uplifting track “Golden,” sung by EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, has had an insane run on the Billboard Hot 100, topping the charts for a whopping 15 weeks thus far. Recently, the faux girl group was just nominated for six awards at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, primarily for their track “Golden.”
In the box office, the Netflix animated film topped with roughly $18 million over two days. With a release in theaters around Halloween, the movie collected $5 million to $6 million, which was a shock, given it’d already been widely available to watch on streaming. With all this in mind, you’ve got plenty of reasons to shop the girl group’s merch before it’s gone for good, especially given that a lot of their merch is currently on sale. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorites below, including t-shirts, pillows, hoodies and so much more that would look great under the tree or neatly nestled in a gift box this holiday season.
KPop Demon Hunters HUNTR/X Officially Licensed T-Shirt
$16.99
$22.97
26% off
A T-shirt featuring all of the HUNTR/X members on the front.
Kpop Demon Hunters Halloween Derpy Playing with Plant Vase T-Shirt
$16.99
$19.99
15% off
A white tee with Derpy on the front.
The retailer has a slew of options for everyone, from unisex cotton tees to insulated tumblers, all up to 15% off. This is official licensed merchandise. Some of our favorite pieces include the HUNTR/X sweatshirt with a large graphic on the front depicting members Rumi, Mira and Zoey in purple, blue and pink hues. The sweatshirt, like a majority of the clothing items featured in this article, ranges in size from small to XX-large.
You’ve also got a HUNTR/X iPhone case affixed with a graphic of the members posed in an action shot, ready to battle some demons. The case is a two-parter made from a premium scratch-resistant polycarbonate shell layered over a shock-absorbent TPU liner that protects against drops from high heights. The case fits the iPhone XR. The HUNTR/X hoodie is another winner in our book. It comes in three different colorways and is made of a cozy mix of cotton and polyester. Sizing options range from medium to XX-large.
KPop Demon Hunters Band Logo Officially Licensed Pullover Hoodie
$36.52
$42.97
15% off
A hoodie with the HUNTR/X logo on the front.
KPop Demon Hunters HUNTR/X Officially Licensed Throw Pillow
A pillow with all the HUNTR/X members on it.
This film aptly capitalizes on the success that the K-pop genre has seen not only in South Korea, but all over the world. You’ve got crisp and colorful animation brought to you by the same crew that did Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, along with punchy action sequences and foot-tapping original music tracks that take inspo from the best of K-Pop, and you’ve got a clear recipe for success.
So we know the inspiration for this film was K-Pop, but how did it all come about? Demons and K-Pop aren’t really the first two things we think of when playing word association. Well, the film draws heavily from director Maggie Kang’s South Korean roots along with South Korean folklore surrounding demons and mythology. Of course, Kang’s love of K-pop was also a huge inspiration. The film is currently available to stream exclusively on Netflix.
If you’ve missed the viral phenomenon, we’ll catch you up to speed: The movie centers around world-renowned K-pop girl group HUNTR/X, as the members balance their lives in the spotlight with their secret identities as demon hunters. Each group and musical number was based loosely on some of your favorite K-pop acts, including MONSTA X and BLACKPINK to Itzy and EXO. K-Pop is interwoven throughout this endeavor. In fact, tracks featured in the film are even sung by former and current K-pop idols such as Kevin Woo from UKISS to Twice’s track “Takedown,” sung by members Jeongyeon Jihyo and Chaeyoung.
Kpop Demon Golden Merch Rumi Zoey Mira Inspired Bracelets
$11.99
$12.99
8% off
Four bracelets with gold and black beads.
KPop Demon Hunters Juniors Huntrix Holographic Logo Sweatshirt Black M
A sweatshirt with the HUNTR/X logo on the front.
More KPop Demon Hunters Merch we Love
KPop Demon Hunters HUNTR/X Logo Girls Mineral Wash Crop T-Shirt
$21.52
$26.90
20% off
A distressed cropped tee with the HUNTR/X logo on the front.
KPop Demon Hunters HUNTR/X Group Panels Garment Dye T-Shirt
$26.32
$32.90
20% off
A purple tee with the HUNTR/X members on the front.
KPop Demon Hunters HUNTR/X Logo Hoodie
A black hoodie with HUNTR/X’s logo on the front.
KPop Demon Hunters HUNTR/X Hero Group T-Shirt
$15
$24.90
40% off
A black tee with the HUNTR/X members on the front.
Watch the KPop Demon Hunters trailer below:
Trending on Billboard
A Korean court has rejected NewJeans’ attempt to break away from its label ADOR, dealing a major victory to the HYBE subsidiary in its closely-watched legal battle with the chart-topping K-pop group.
The five members of NewJeans — Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein — have been fighting since last November to leave ADOR and make music independently under the moniker NJZ. The women claim ADOR broke their trust with the controversial dismissal of their mentor, former CEO Min Hee-jin.
Related
However, ADOR has argued that NewJeans’ 2022 exclusive contract bars any independent activities until 2029. A legal battle ensued and, after months of back and forth, a Korean court sided with ADOR on Thursday (Oct. 30).
According to Korean news reports, a judge in the Seoul Central District Court ruled that Min’s termination was not sufficient grounds for NewJeans to void its seven-year contract with ADOR.
“Nowhere in the exclusive contract is it stated that ADOR must entrust the management duties for NewJeans to Min Hee-jin,” wrote Presiding Judge Jeong Hoe-il, according to the Chosun Daily. “Merely the fact that NewJeans personally places high trust in Min Hee-jin does not make guaranteeing her the position of ADOR’s CEO a significant obligation under the exclusive contract.”
In an official statement on Thursday, ADOR expressed “deep gratitude for the court’s decision.”
Related
“We sincerely hope that today’s judgment, which comes after long-term verification of various claims and facts and reaffirms prior rulings, will serve as an opportunity for the artists to calmly reflect on this matter,” said the label. “ADOR is committed to re-emphasizing its role and responsibilities as NewJeans’ management agency. As we stated during the trial, we have completed preparations for the artist’s activities, including the release of a studio album, and are waiting. We will do our utmost to return to the fans through discussions with the artist.”
The NewJeans members, meanwhile, put out a statement through their lawyers saying they plan to appeal the decision.
“NewJeans members respect the court’s judgment, but it is impossible to return to this company and continue normal entertainment activities in the current situation where the trust relationship with ADOR is completely shattered,” said the law firm Shin & Kim, as reported by the Korea Times.
NewJeans’ legal battle with ADOR has captivated the K-pop world, where companies like HYBE hold immense power and artists rarely speak out against their labels.
The group found global success in 2023 with the EP Get Up, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and spent 26 weeks on the chart. The album’s lead single, “Super Shy,” peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Global 200.
Hours into their Billboard Women in Music photo shoot, the members of aespa are goofing off. High-pitched giggles reverberate through the studio as Winter, Karina, Ningning and Giselle tickle one another’s sides, talk in silly voices and play with the straps on their leathery stage outfits. It’s mesmerizing to watch the four early-20-somethings be so, […]
For over a year, the K-pop industry has been embroiled in a heated debate over the girl group NewJeans. In fact, even the name “NewJeans” has become a point of contention following the group’s announcement in February that they would be rebranded as NJZ. However, their management company, ADOR, has disputed the legitimacy of this name change. While the group has requested to be referred to as NJZ, no legal ruling has been made on the matter, leaving the existing contract intact. As a result, from a legal standpoint, NewJeans remains the more accurate designation for the time being.
Amid ongoing legal uncertainties, NewJeans is moving ahead independently. This March, the group is scheduled to perform at ComplexCon Hong Kong, where they are reportedly debuting a new song. This move appears to be an attempt to further establish their rebranded identity as NJZ. After all, performing NewJeans’ hit songs while adopting a new name could be seen as contradictory.
Trending on Billboard
Music organizations and associations in Korea are closely monitoring the NewJeans situation. In February, five major organizations — the Korea Management Federation, Korea Entertainment Producers’ Association, Record Label Industry of Korea, Recording Industry Association of Korea and the Korea Music Content Association — issued a statement expressing concerns over NewJeans and former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin’s independent activities. Their primary issue is “tampering,” with suspicions that Min has been attempting to remove NewJeans from ADOR.
The statement from the five organizations reads, “For the past 10 months, we have observed a growing trend, in which certain parties attempt to resolve private disputes through media campaigns and unilateral public statements instead of proper negotiations or legal procedures, including former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin’s press conferences, NewJeans member Hanni’s appearance at a National Assembly audit, and the group’s independent activities.”
NewJeans fans argue that these five organizations are merely echoing ADOR/HYBE’s stance. However, the key issue at hand is their emphasis on the importance of “adhering to legal processes.”
At a press conference on Nov. 28, 2024, NewJeans members announced that “their contract with ADOR would officially end at midnight on November 29th.” They stated, “We have had enough conversations and sent certification of content, but there were no responses during that time. As ADOR and HYBE have breached the contract, we are terminating it.”
Since then, NewJeans has continued its individual actions and reiterated its stance in interviews with foreign media. In a CNN interview last month, the group emphasized, “We have completely lost trust in ADOR. We believe we will win this battle against HYBE and ADOR.” Through Japan’s TV Asahi, a subsidiary of Asahi Shimbun, they stated, “Right now, there are very few media outlets in Korea that carry our voices. Instead of letting that discourage us, we will enjoy our activities.”
International fans who have closely followed NewJeans’ statements may be more inclined to side with the group. However, with both the lawsuit verifying the validity of their claims and the injunction application still ongoing, their assertions remain one-sided. In this context, foreign media that present NewJeans’ perspective without providing balanced coverage of the ongoing legal dispute risk spreading misinformation.
NewJeans and ADOR remain deeply divided, locked in a tense standoff. On March 7, the Seoul Central District Court held the first hearing on ADOR’s provisional injunction request to “maintain the status of agency and prohibit the signing of advertising contracts.” Both parties presented conflicting arguments and failed to reach a resolution.
As a result, it is challenging to take a definitive stance between ADOR or NewJeans. The most prudent thing to do right now is to wait and see how the court reaches its decision, based on the various claims and substantial evidence presented by both parties.
This is precisely the position shared by the five music industry organizations in Korea. On Feb. 27, they held a press conference titled, “Let’s Keep a Promise: Without Record Producers, There is No K-pop!,” where they declared:
“No one can confirm the cancellation of a contract before the court’s judgment, and we must all accept the legal outcome, whatever it may be. This is the only way to protect our industry amid conflict and dispute.”
For now, the K-pop community watches and waits for the court’s decision — a ruling that could have lasting implications for NewJeans, ADOR and the entire industry.
This article was written by Austin Jin and originally appeared on Billboard Korea.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. NewJeans are back in the headlines, but not for the reasons you may think. The K-pop girl group haven’t released new […]
It’s JISOO’s time to shine. The star, who recently celebrated her 30th birthday, unveiled her highly anticipated debut solo mini-album, AMORTAGE, fittingly on Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14). Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The four-song mini-album includes the tracks “Earthquake,” “Your Love,” “Tears” and “Hugs & Kisses.” […]
Time to head over to Bruno Mars and ROSÉ’s “APT.” for a celebration. The high-energy track has officially reached the one billion views mark on YouTube, the video platform announced this week. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Just 105 days after its release in October 2024, the […]
BLACKPINK is coming to your area! The K-pop superstars teased that they are hitting the road for a world tour in a video that dropped Wednesday (Feb. 5).
In a 21-second video on their social media channels and YouTube, the visual begins with a pitch black screen before an aerial view of a massive, open-air stadium begins to come into view, with the camera panning over thousands of fans cheering from different angles. The quartet of Jennie, Lisa, Jisoo and Rosé on a stage then comes into view, before the screen goes to black, a spotlight comes in, and the four women’s silhouette appears with the name of the group in — of course — pink popping up. The video ends with simple pink text on a black background: “2025 World Tour.”
Dates and venues have not yet been revealed.
Trending on Billboard
BLINKs shared their excitement in the comments section on YouTube and Instagram. “OMG, We were all waiting for our Queens, and now we’re gonna have a Great COMEBACKKKKK!” one wrote. Added another, “THE QUEENS ARE BACK !!!!”
The members of BLACKPINK have taken a break from group activities for the past year or so to focus on their solo projects. Jennie made her acting debut in HBO’s The Idol in 2023, and has released songs with other musical collaborators and solo since; Rosé dropped solo album rosie in December 2024, which featured her hit Bruno Mars collab “APT.”; Lisa’s debut solo album, Alter Ego, is arriving later this month and is appearing in the upcoming third season of White Lotus; while Jisoo’s mini album AMORTAGE will drop on Valentine’s Day.
In Jennie’s January Billboard cover story, she opened up about the quartet staying close by connecting in a group chat while working separately on their own projects. “Even though we know we can’t see each other so much, it doesn’t really feel any different than all the other years because we know we’re here for each other,” she said at the time.. “They’re literally a phone call away. And at this point, we respect each other’s space so much. So if there’s anything to be happy for, to celebrate, we’re all in it together.”
And in her own November Billboard cover story, Lisa confirmed BLACKPINK’s upcoming reunion for 2025, revealing that she feels the same ways as BLINKs about resuming group activities: “I can’t wait.”
Watch BLACKPINK’s 2025 tour teaser above.
LISA is less than a month away from unveiling her debut solo album, Alter Ego, but the superstar isn’t done with teasing the project just yet. The BLACKPINK singer took to Instagram on Tuesday (Feb. 4) to reveal the sleek cover art for her upcoming collaboration with Doja Cat and Raye, “Born Again.” In the mysterious […]
It’s going to be a sweet Valentine’s Day indeed. JISOO is less than two weeks away from dropping her highly anticipated debut solo mini-album, AMORTAGE, on Feb. 14, and the K-pop superstar continued the roll-out by unveiling the project’s tracklist on Monday (Feb. 3). Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, […]
