Singer G-Dragon vows to take legal actions against malicious rumors about illegal drug use

SEOUL -- Singer G-Dragon has declared war against cyberbullies who maliciously defame the 35-year-old former BIGBANG member by spreading groundless rumors about a drug scandal. G-Dragon's warning was sent out about a week after police found no evidence of illegal use of drugs on the singer's hair and nail samples. The singer and actor Lee Sun-kyun, who became globally popular after his appearance in the academy-winning film "Parasite," directed by Bong Jun-ho, were

November 22, 2023

Police find no trace of drugs in G-Dragon's nail samples

SEOUL -- After about a month of a drug investigation on celebrities including singer G-Dragon and actor Lee Sun-kyun, police disclosed that no traces of drugs were found in the 35-year-old former idol band member. The law enforcers also found no evidence of illegal drug use from the 48-year-old actor. The singer was suspected of using illegal drugs and was summoned for interrogation on November 6. Prior to the nail sample test, G-Dragon also participated in drug tests on October 29

November 21, 2023

Stray Kids tops Billboard's top 200 popular albums chart for fourth time

SEOUL -- Boy band Stray Kids has topped Billboard's top 200 popular albums chart with its album "Rock-STAR." Along with BTS, the eight-member band became the second K-pop group that ranked first more than three times on the weekly chart that ranks the 200 most popular albums in the United States. The album, released on November 10, arrived atop the list on the Billboard 200 chart with 224,000 equivalent album units sold in the U.S. in the week ending November 16. The

November 20, 2023

S. Korean police hands over BTS member V's alleged stalker to prosecution

SEOUL -- Police have handed over BTS member V's stalker to the prosecution. The woman was charged with violating the stalking punishment act and trespassing into the male artist's residence. According to Seoul Gangnam Police Station, the woman was accused of attempting to approach the 27-year-old singer by visiting his apartment on October 26. The police authority said the woman followed V into the building's elevator and this is not the first time she visited V's ap

November 17, 2023

Rapper Jay Park appointed as ambassador for global luxury brand Gucci

SEOUL -- Gucci, a high-end luxury fashion house in Italy, has selected rapper Jay Park as its global ambassador. The 36-year-old, known for his hip-hop label AOMG, has participated in the global brand's fashion show held at a traditional Korean royal palace in central Seoul in May 2023. AOMG has one of the strongest lineups of artists in South Korea's hip-hop scene. In August 2021, the label held a non-face-to-face extended reality (XR) concert for global hip-hop fans amid t

November 14, 2023

BTS agency selects veteran content producer Isaac Lee to lead subsidiary in Mexico

SEOUL -- Isaac Lee, a Colombian-American content creator who produced the Netflix crime thriller series "El Chapo," has been picked to lead a Mexico-based subsidiary of Hybe, the agency of BTS. The veteran producer will create content tailored to the Latin American market and collaborate with global agencies. Data released by Hybe showed that the Latin American music market reached about $1.3 billion in 2022, up 26.4 percent from a year ago. Spanish language-based songs

November 13, 2023

BTS' Jungkook ranks second on Billboard's top 200 popular albums chart with 'Golden'

SEOUL -- Jungkook, the youngest member of BTS, has ranked second on Billboard's top 200 popular albums chart with his very first solo album "Golden." American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift took first place with "1989 (Taylor's Version)." Jungkook's album, released on November 3, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart with 210,200 equivalent album units sold in the United States in the week ending November 13. The album, containing 11 English son

November 13, 2023

Brazilian painter showcases artwork inspired by rapper Psy's Gangnam Style

SEOUL -- Sandra Rigo, a Brazilian artist specializing in acrylic painting, has showcased her artwork inspired by rapper Psy's global hit song "Gangnam Style." Using only her hands and eschewing the use of brushes or other traditional painting tools, the painter created a captivating piece displayed at an exhibition in Seoul designed to foster cultural ties between South Korea and Brazil. Gangnam Style is a fast-paced dance song that became a worldwide phenomenon after

November 11, 2023

BTS' Jungkook awaits reunion with fellow BTS members in 2025

SEOUL -- Jungkook, the youngest member of BTS, anticipates his reunion with fellow BTS members in 2025 will create enormous synergy. The-seven band is set to resume its group activities in 2025 after all members complete their compulsory military service in South Korea. In South Korea, all able-bodied males who are 18 and older must fulfill their military service unless they have a valid reason for exemption. Those who joined the army should serve for at least 18 months. Currently,

November 10, 2023

Hundreds of young S. Koreans flock to panda-themed event store to grab limited edition items

SEOUL -- Dressed in casual jackets and coats, young South Koreans in their 20s and 30s flocked to a pop-up store featuring Fu Bao, a three-year-old YouTube celebrity Chinese panda currently living at a zoo in South Korea. Despite the windy weather on the first day of the pop-up store event, about 800 people competitively raced to make a reservation to enter the store, filled with Fu Bao-related apparel, accessories, and cups engraved with a picture of the female panda. About 70 perce

November 9, 2023