K-Town

It’s undeniable that BLACKPINK is one of the biggest bands in the world, past and present. And in a new interview, Jisoo — one fourth of the K-pop girl group — was candid about the impact she and fellow members Lisa, Rosé and Jennie have had on their genre. Sitting down with Elle Korea for […]

BTS‘ V is the new face of French luxury jeweler Cartier’s new Panthère de Cartier campaign. In a statement, Cartier International senior vp & chief marketing officer Arnaud Carrez praised the K-pop superstar’s skills and style, saying, “V is a dancer, musician & art lover who has a solid personality & sense of making choices […]

Though BTS‘ J-Hope is in the midst of his mandatory military service, the singer is still giving ARMY something to talk about, and listen to. BIGHIT Music announced on Monday morning (July 17) that a year after its initial release, Hope’s solo debut, Jack in the Box, will be released in a physical version on […]

Hugh Grant is officially hooked on that pink venom. After seeing BLACKPINK perform, the 62-year-old Golden Globe winner took to Twitter to announce his new place among the BLINKs’ ranks. “Very grateful to three eleven year olds for taking me to see @BLACKPINK yesterday,” the film star tweeted Monday (July 3). “Am rabid Blink now. […]

Skyscrapers, bridges and other landmarks in South Korea’s capital will be lit up in purple on Monday (June 12) as the country begins celebrating the 10th anniversary of K-pop band BTS, whose global popularity is a source of national pride.
The lights will provide the backdrop for various social media-driven events marking the 2013 debut of the seven-member group, which is now taking a hiatus as its singers begin to serve their mandatory military duties.

From Monday evening, numerous Seoul structures, including City Hall, the 123-story Lotte World Tower, several Han River bridges, and the futuristic DDP – a Zaha Hadid-designed aluminum and concrete dome that’s often used for visual art – will be bathed in purple, a color associated with BTS, according to city officials and the group’s management company, Hybe.

Messages congratulating BTS were displayed on digital screens in buildings across Seoul, while postal authorities issued stamps marking the group’s anniversary, which will be available at post offices starting Tuesday.

Seoul officials hope that the celebrations, which will continue for around two weeks, will boost tourism. The city has designated more than a dozen sites associated with BTS, including places where the group held major performances or shot some of their famous videos.

Fireworks are planned at a park near the Han River on Saturday night, hours after one of the BTS singers, RM, holds a live talk with fans that will be broadcast online.

Quickly garnering huge followings in Asia following their debut, BTS’ popularity expanded across the globe with their 2020 megahit “Dynamite,” the band’s first all-English song that made it the first K-pop act to top Billboard’s Hot 100. BTS has since performed in sold-out arenas around the world and was invited to speak at United Nations meetings, supported by a legion of global followers who call themselves the “Army.”

BTS’ activities as a full group are currently on hold as the artists begin to serve in the military. Two BTS singers – Jin and J-Hope – have already started their compulsory 18-month service and other members are to follow in coming months, which likely means the group will reconvene around 2025.

In South Korea, all able-bodied men are required to serve in uniform 18-21 months under a system meant to deter aggression from rival North Korea.

Halsey helped Suga close out his three-night stand at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum on Sunday night (May 14) by joining the BTS member for the live debut of their 2020 joint track “Suga’s Interlude” from Halsey’s Manic album. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news In a video of […]