Author: Denise Coley
South Korean actress Kim Sae Ron, widely recognized for her role in Netflix’s Bloodhounds, tragically passed away on February 16 at the age of 24. Kim was found at her residence in Seoul, after a close acquaintance alerted authorities. Initial investigations indicate no signs of foul play. While no note was discovered, officials presumed that her death was suicide. Kim Sae Ron captivated audiences from a young age with standout performances in A Brand New Life (2009) and The Man from Nowhere (2010). Her transition to adult roles, particularly in Bloodhounds, cemented her place in the Korean entertainment industry. Despite…
IVE girl band’s agency, Starship Entertainment, is gearing up to launch its latest girl group. 4 years since the successful debut of IVE girl band, Starship Entertainment is planning to make another successful venture with the debut of a new girl group, KiiiKiii. On February 10, the new girl group rumors were confirmed after KiiiKiii official accounts were launched on various social media platforms. In addition to the launched accounts, teaser images are being posted with concepts of ‘gems’ and ‘glitter’ fused with happiness and fun vibes. According to the vibe in the posted images and video clips, fans speculate…
‘SMTOWN LIVE 2025 [The Culture, The Future]’ is heading to Los Angeles and London and the artist lineup is out. As SM Entertainment continues celebrating its 30th anniversary, the powerhouse agency is expanding its anniversary event beyond Korea. On February 14, the agency revealed the artist lineup for the Los Angeles leg. The LA event is scheduled to take place on May 11 in Dignity Health Sports Park and will feature artists like SHINee’s Key and Minho, SUPER JUNIOR, and EXO’s Chanyeol among others. As for London’s ‘SMTOWN LIVE 2025 [The Culture, The Future]’ event, only part of the artist…
ONEWE, an alternative rock boy band, has announced the dates for their 1st world tour. Six years after its debut, ONEWE is finally taking a leap to connect with its fans one-on-one. The band is scheduled to kick off the tour in Vietnam, then North America, before closing the curtains in Seoul, South Korea. Although the Vietnam dates are yet to be released, the official dates for the North American leg are out. The North American leg is scheduled to run from early April to early May 2025. The tour will start in Orlando in April, with performances in other…
‘Forbidden Fairytale’ K-movie is a 2025 South Korean romantic comedy film that centers on a woman aspiring to become a children’s book author but unexpectedly finds herself writing adult web novels. Yun Dan Bi (Park Ji Hyun) dreams of becoming a children’s book author but works as a public officer in the Youth Protection Team and is responsible for monitoring and regulating adult content. Her life takes an unforeseen turn when she accidentally damages Hwang Chang Seop (Sung Dong Il)’s car. Chang Seop is the CEO of an adult web novel publishing company and to repay the debt, Dan Bi…
‘Study Group’ K-drama follows the journey of Yoon Ga-min, a student at Yusung Technical High School, as he struggles to achieve academic success despite his school’s poor reputation. Adapted from the popular webtoon of the same name by Shin Hyung Wook, the series blends action, drama, and youth-oriented themes, making it an anticipated K-drama for fans of school-based narratives. Yoon Ga Min is a dedicated student with big dreams of getting into university. However, despite his studious nature, his grades don’t reflect his efforts. Nonetheless, Ga-min is highly skilled in fighting – a skill that becomes crucial in navigating the…
The East Light was a South Korean band under Media Line Entertainment and debuted in November 2016 with the “Holla” single. The group comprised 6 members including Lee Seokcheol, Lee Seunghyun, Jung Sagang, Lee Eunsung, Kim Junwook, and Lee Woojin. Known for their youthful energy and musical prowess, The East Light quickly garnered attention in the K-pop scene becoming a K-pop sensation band. Debut & Early Success: Upon their debut, The East Light showcased a unique blend of pop and rock elements, setting them apart from typical idol groups. Given the members ‘ young ages, their musicality and live performances…
Dubbed “Korea’s Lady Gaga”, South Korean singer Anda (안다) made waves in the K-pop industry with her unique sound and bold image. From her early debut to joining YG Entertainment’s subsidiary YGX, Anda’s career was filled with promise. However, after a period of inactivity, she stepped away from the industry—only to make an exciting return with a new single, a new chapter in her personal life, and a fresh start in music. So, where is Anda now? Let’s take a look at her journey. Debut and Rise: Anda first debuted in 2012 as Andamiro under Trophy Entertainment with the “Don’t…
The highly anticipated Asian festival is returning to LA with a packed line-up of global stars. BIGBANG’s G-dragon and the legendary 2NE1 girl band will grace the event. The event will also mark the organizer’s 88rising 10th anniversary. 88rising announced the festival’s line-up with the festival scheduled to take place on May 31 and June 1 at Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California. Some of the other performing artists include DEAN, Rich Brian, Milli, DPR Ian, Youha, and Higher Brothers. The Head in the Clouds Festival 2025 Tickets are on sale on the HTIC festival website. —-Karen Mwenda #HeadInTheCloudsFestival2025 #HTICFestival…
As of February 2025, the K-pop industry has delivered global hits that have captivated audiences worldwide. Here are the top 10 most streamed K-pop songs of 2025 so far: 1. “APT.” – Rosé & Bruno Mars Released in late 2024, “APT.” has maintained its momentum into 2025, becoming a massive commercial success globally. The song surpassed 100 million streams just days after release and surpassed over a billion streams in January 2025 2. “Home Sweet Home” – G-Dragon ft. Taeyang & Daesung “Home Sweet Home”, a collaboration track by BIGBANG members has resonated deeply with fans and also secured position…
In “A Thousand Blues” novel, South Korean writer Cheon Seon Ran explores technology, humanity, and the bonds that connect us. the narrative is set in 2035 and focuses on two sisters with one forced to find solace in familial bond after losing her job to automation. To beat the odds and outdo the new world, the two sisters devise bravery plans embodied in sacrifices. Amidst social progress, empathy and ethical considerations toward technological advancement are themes bound to leave readers in an emotional wreck. Collie, a robot jockey, is a character that portrays these two themes the best. Collie is…
‘The Vegetarian’ writer and the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature winner Han Kang has released yet another masterpiece. We Do Not Part is a hauntingly poetic exploration of memories, trauma, and resilience. The novel follows Kyungha, a writer and Seoul resident, who travels to Jeju Island to visit her childhood friend, Inseon. Inseon encountered an accident that left her incapacitated forcing her to ask Kyungha to care for her beloved pet bird, Ama. As Kyungha arrives on the snow-covered island, she is drawn into the history of Jeju and its dark legacy of pain and loss. The story intricately connects…
‘When the Phone Rings’ actor Yoo Yeon Seok has clarified about the fueling rumors of his chemistry with co-actress Chae Soo Bin. The recently concluded ‘When the Phone Rings’ series has had global fans going crazy with the chemistry buildup between the two lead actors. The craze resulted in flooding messages pleading that the two actors finally date in real life. In an interview on January 6, actor Yoo Yeon Seok clarified that he and actress Chae Soo Bin are not dating. Yoon Seok thanked fans for appreciating their acting skills and showing support and love for the ‘When the…
Actor Kim Jung Hyun is scheduled to part ways with his current agency as his contract comes to an end. Kim Jung Hyun, known for his charm in the currently airing “Iron Family” rom-com k-drama, will finish his contract with Story J Company this year. Jung Hyun joined the agency in September 2021, and his contract is scheduled to end in March this year. Recently, Kim Jung Hyun made headlines after a non-directed apology during the 2024 KBS Drama Awards. The apology was believed to be directed to Seohyun, who was hosting the event, for the 2018 incident when Jung…
Stray Kids has released its 2025 plans and confirmed its Valentine’s Day fan meeting dates. On February 14, 2025, Stray Kids will be holding its 5th official fan meeting. The ‘Stray Kids 5TH FANMEETING “SKZ 5’CLOCK”’ is scheduled for 14,15, and 16 February at Inspire Arena, Incheon. The band will hold a live online broadcast on February 16 via Beyond LIVE for their global fans. On January 6, Stray Kids shared the ‘Stray Kids “STEP OUT 2025”’ video highlighting a list of activities scheduled for 2025. The video includes plans like the upcoming official fan meeting and ‘Stray Kids World…
JYP Entertainment has revealed teaser images of their newest boy group band ahead of the group’s album release. JYP has released teaser images of the members of KickFlip. The band is a septet comprising Minje, Keiju, Donghwa, Kyehoon, Juwang, Amaru, and Donghyeon. KickFlip, formed through LOUD program, was scheduled to debut on New Year’s Eve but plans changed due to the Jeju flight incident. Earlier on, JYP had released the “Umm Great” music video. The track is KickFlip’s pre-debut track for the upcoming ‘Flip It, Kick It!’ album scheduled for release on January 20. —-Karen Mwenda #JYP #NewJYPboygroup…
BLACKPINK’s Lisa has partnered with Armra to develop a limited-edition beverage that will be only available at Erewhon supermarket. BLACKPINK’s Lisa is becoming an international partnership sensation with her latest deal being with Los Angles’ Erewhon supermarket chain. The limited-edition beverage is an iced tea with inspirations from Thailand. The ice tea, consisting mainly of Colostrum, clover Sonoma organic heavy cream, and Just Iced Tea black tea, will be available for purchase from February 7. —-Karen Mwenda #LisaBlackpink #BLACKPINK #Erewhon #Erewhonbeveragepartnership #kcrush #Armra #kpop #kpopidol #ErewhonSupermarket #kculture #Thailandinspired #icetea #Colostrum #cloverSonomaorganicheavycream
Lee Hee Chul, a renowned influencer and broadcaster, passed away at the age of 40. Lee Hee Chul passed away on January 7 after succumbing to a heart attack after being hospitalized for a week for a chronic illness treatment. A message by Hee Chul’s younger brother on his social media platforms confirmed the devastating news that indeed the star had passed. Before the passing. Lee Hee Chul was a former photographer turned visual director of CLASS.y girl group. Over the years, the Hee Chul built a career as a broadcaster and restauranteur, which appeared in KBS2’s Mr. Househusband Sn…
2NEI girl band has confirmed it will be interacting with local fans in Seoul as part of their ongoing 15th anniversary Asia tour. 2NE1 is scheduled to hold the “2025 2NE1 CONCERT [WELCOME BACK] ENCORE IN SEOUL” on 12 and 13 April at KSPO DOME, Seoul. The band is currently on the “2024-25 [WELCOME BACK] Asia tour” which kicked off on October 2024. 2ne1 reunited in 2024 for their 15th debut anniversary after disbanding in 2016. —-Karen Mwenda #2NE1EncoreinSeoul #2NE1 #WelcomeBack #AsiaTour #15thdebut #April2025 #kcrush #kpopgirlgroup #kpopidol #kpop #hallyu #kcrushmagazine #kcrushamerica #kcrushannouncement #KSPODomeinSeoul #koreansinger #kpopcelebrity #kcrushtopentertainmentmagazine #2NE1
EXO-CBX will reunite this February through its first fan meeting in 6 years in Japan. INB100 agency announced that EXO-CBX will be holding a fan meeting in Japan this February. The ‘GET, SET, GO!’ (Get, 3, Go!) 2025 CBX JAPAN FANMETING will be taking place at Yokohama’s Pia Arena MM, Japan. The fan meeting is scheduled for 8 and 9 February 2025. The members have been carrying out solo projects including Chen’s 2024 ‘DOOR’ mini album and ‘Beyond the Door’ fan concert Asia tour, Xiumin’s MCing KBS 2TV’s ‘MAKE MATE 1)’ program, and Baekhyun’s 2024 ‘Hello, World’ mini album. …