Posts

HYBE Idols Admits the Difficulty of Getting Close to BTS

Image
  At present, the HYBE Labels system manges numerous active idol groups through its various subsidiaries and sub-labels. If we count only currently active K-pop idol groups, there are approximately ten. In addition to BTS, notable examples include SEVENTEEN, TXT, ENHYPEN, CORTIS, KATSEYE, and LE SSERAFIM, among others.  Because they all belong to the same umbrella label, it is easy to see that BTS members have close relationships with members of those groups, J-Hope collaborated with Le Sserafim on the track "Spaghetti" and also filmed a video to support Cortis. Jin and TXT's Beomgyu are well-known for their close friendship, to the point that Beomgyu frequently visits Jin's home. Jungkook and SEVENTEEN's Mingyu are long-time close friends as part of the famous '97-line, and so on. In particular, BTS are widely known as idols with friendly and kind personalities. Even as top-tier global superstars, they remain humble and treat everyone around them with sinceri...

[Theqoo] Korean netizens are currently buzzing about Jungkook becoming the first Korean artist to appear in the U.S. elementary school textbooks

Image
  [Theqoo - 260504] BTS's Jungkook just showed up in a U.S. elementary school book series lineup (feat. Messi, Taylor, and Ronaldo) Jungkook became the first Korean singer to be featured in an educational book series for U.S. elementary students (Brain Candy Books), which introduces popular stars in music and sports. Featuring Jungkook: Facts, Quizzes, Activities, and More! - part of the prestigious Your Favorite Stars series by Brain Candy through Capstone Press. Jungkook is the ONLY solo artist from Asian cultures featured in Capstone Library - the world's largest educational e-library! pic.twitter.com/8gOzr6vp6h — JK Radio Updater (@JKRadioUpdater) May 3, 2026 (Excerpt from the book)   For 2025: Messi, Simone Biles, Taylor Swift, Shawn Mendes For this year: Jungkook, Selena Gomez, Dua Lipa, Ronaldo The book covers Jungkook's life motto, his iconic nicknames/titles, his growth story, and his solo career. Comments: 1. Jungkook is so big as a soloist that he's ranking o...

HYBE Reports a Surge in Q1 2026 Revenue Fueled by BTS's Comeback

Image
  According to the Korea Tourism Organization, the number of foreign visitors to South Korea in March reached 2,046,000, marking a 26.7% year-on-year increase. This figure is also 30% higher than in the same month in 2019, before the pandemic. By country, China ranked first with 500,000 visitors, followed by Japan, Taiwan, and the United States. Experts have analyzed that strong growth was driven by a large influx of global fans traveling to Korea for the concerts marking BTS's return. Meanwhile, Hana Card estimated that 30,000 foreign tourists attended the three BTS concerts in Goyang in early April alone. This generated domestic spending of up to 55.5 billion KRW (approximately US$37.659.614) across sectors such as aviation, accommodation, dining, and shopping. Card transactions in commercial areas near the venue surged by over 800% compared to the previous week, while total spending increased by 231%. These figures represent only part of the overall picture but already highlight...

BigHit Music Unveils the Reason Behind Breaking Their Own Rules to Recruit Jungkook

Image
  Over the past decade, the story of Jungkook receiving seven casting offers from entertainment companies —including some of the most prominent at the time, such as Cube Entertainment and Starship Entertainment —after being eliminted from Superstar K3 has become widely known within the fan community. ARMYs have also half-jokingly suggested that BigHit Music succeeded in recruiting him —despite being a relatively smaller company at the time —because he admired RM from their very first meeting. However, the story behind how BigHit Music convinced Jungkook to join is far more complex. In fact, the company even broke its own recruitment rules for him. An excludive interview with Noh Min-mi, who was directly involved in signing Jungkook 14 years ago, has revealed the fully story behind his highly valuable contract. First, casting director Noh Min-mi recalled her first meeting withJungkook: "The first artist for whom I personally conducted casting from the very beginning was Jungkook. H...

"Sold Out Again"... BTS's Busan Concert Draws Explosive Popularity, Global Attention on Their Debut Anniversary Performance

Image
  Busan transform into a Citywide Cultural Festival with the "THE CITY : ARIRANG" project "Crystal Snow" Tops Japanese Charts... Global momentum continues with North American Tour BTS has once again proven their immense popularity, as all seats for their upcoming ARIRANG world tour concerts —set to take place on June 12-13 at Busan Asiad Main Stadium —sold out during the fan club presale. Previously, their opening concerts in Goyang also sold out across all three nights. Tickets for their Japan, North America, and Europe tour stops have been rapidly snapped up as well, reaffirming the global power of their fandom. The Busan concerts hold special significance, marking their return to the same venue approximately three years and eight months after the 2022 concert in support of "2030 Busan World Expo Bid." It is also the place where they last performed together as a full group. In particular, June 13 —the group's debut anniversary —is expected to make th...

"BTS Hardly Uses Korean Lyrics? There's Actually Another Reason"

Image
  Debuting at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, holding the top spot on the Billboard 200 for three consecutive weeks, earning a "Triple Platinum" certification from the Japan Gold Disc Awards (over 750.000 cumulative album shipments), and selling out the largest world tour ever by a Korean artist —these are just some of the achievements BTS has recorded since their comeback on the 20th of last month afte a hiatus of three years and nine months. We recently met Kim Hyun-jung, Vice President of BigHit Music, at HYBE's Yongsan headquarters in Seoul to hear the behind-the-scenes story of BTS's comeback album ARIRANG, which she oversaw in its entirely. Kim began her career in album production planning at Starship Entertainment in 2012. After working at Sony Music Publishing and HYBE, she joined Columbia Records in the U.S. in 2023 as the first Korean executive at a major American record label. She returned to BigHit Music in July last year and was also selected for Bil...

Korean netizens talk about V and Jungkook’s iconic handshake after more than 10 years at the first day of the Arirang concert in Tampa.

  [Theqoo — 260426] The latest update on BTS V and Jungkook's handshake, built over 10 years. At today's BTS concert in Tampa, USA, V and Jungkook showed a long, extended version of their handshake, built up and refined over more than 10 years. 10년넘게 핸드사인 축적돼서 존나긴거 샹ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ 이 정도면 헌터어처럼 하나의 언어체계라고봐도 무방하지 pic.twitter.com/lrcx2IJy6H — za (@tpjraw) April 26, 2026 Full shot   〈タンパネタバレ要注意〉 グテ ハンドサイン💜💚 グクとテテ、ずっとやってたー! TAEKOOK FOREVER🫶 #BTS_WORLDTOUR_ARIRANG #BTS_WORLDTOUR_ARIRANG_TAMPA pic.twitter.com/AOgNbaydR4 — 🐰mami🐻 🔴🔴🔴✈️🌏 (@my_kookv_vkook) April 26, 2026 The V-Jungkook handshake they've been doing for a long time, in their genuine best-friend mode.  예전에 정국이가 아미랑 만나면 친구처럼 인사하고싶다했을때 내가 만난다면 가장 먼저 해보고싶다고 떠올랐던게 핸드쉐이크...ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ 정국아 우리 만나면 인사 이렇게하자...☆ 와썹~~~ pic.twitter.com/TyeAEE22Gm — 떡볶뷔 (@BstB2BTS_) December 7, 2025 Comments: 1. Still cute lolololololol 2.why is it so long? LOL. And how do they even do that? LOL. 3. But seriously, how do they even remember...