Haerin and Hyein first announce their return; Minji, Dani, and Hana join later; decision comes one day before the appeals deadline.

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Across K-pop, many acts increasingly target Japan, releasing Japanese-language albums and ramping up local activities to connect with Japanese fans. For instance, Tomorrow X Together released their third Japanese studio album Starkissed on October 20, and I-DLE, EXO’s Chanyeol, NCT’s Yuta, and ZEROBASEONE followed suit last month. This pattern reflects a broader industry logic. Japan’s long-standing role in K-pop’s global expansion traces back to BoA’s breakthrough in the 2000s, which helped prove that Korean music could resonate in Japan. Following BoA, TVXQ established a record for overseas artists on the Oricon charts, fueling continued Japanese activity by K-pop acts.

A study links the rise of Korean eateries in the United States to the popularity of K-pop and Korean culture.

NewJeans has returned after more than a year, with Harin and Hyein signaling a return to Adore, a Hybe label, fueling interest in a full-group activity as fans react online. On the 12th, when the news broke that Harin and Hyein were returning to Adore, social media posts included comments like “Glad to see NewJeans again,” “We can hear new NewJeans songs now,” and “Please make a quick comeback.” Overseas fans welcomed the news, with comments such as “NEWJEANS IS FIVE!!!” and messages hoping Adore treats them well and that fans can see them again.

Stray Kids previews instrumental snippets and reveals double title tracks ahead of the release

IVE, Monsta X, and WJSN from Starship Entertainment light up tvN's variety show with their sharp humor and chemistry

Kim Dae-ho reflects on his early days, while a special Homes episode teams him with The Boyz’s Younghoon and Yang Se-chan in a Noryangjin field visit.

A new concept audition program, judged solely on music with no information about the contestants, has been unveiled. The Veiled Musician, which Netflix premiered yesterday, is a large-scale audition program conducted simultaneously in nine Asian countries including South Korea, Japan, China, and Thailand. Contestants are concealed, and the top three are selected based solely on their voices, with the top three from each country gathering on SBS’s Veiled Cup stage next January to determine Asia’s best vocalist. Producers said that while previous masked music programs leaned toward a puzzle-like entertainment format, Veiled Musician emphasizes the audition aspect as its main difference.

Idols balance packed schedules with the College Scholastic Ability Test

JYP Entertainment, which reported weak results in the third quarter due to higher costs of sales, is seen as having growth drivers for next year that are richer than expected. Twice, ENMIX, and Stray Kids have delivered solid results, and are expected to lift earnings. On the 13th, Hana Securities kept JYP Ent.’s target price at 95,000 won and maintained a Buy rating, citing these factors. In the third quarter, sales reached KRW 232.6 billion, up 37% year over year, but operating profit declined 16% to KRW 40.8 billion, missing the market consensus of KRW 51.7 billion.

The wired earphones have resurfaced as wireless earbuds dominated the scene. The revival ties to the Y2K fashion trend, with celebrities such as Blackpink’s Jennie and aespa’s Karina wearing wired earphones as fashion items. Industry sources on the 12th indicate wired earphones are trending among younger people. Online communities show buyers sharing custom wired-earphone purchases, and resale platforms report wired-earphones from the fashion brand aeae selling at roughly twice the retail price at pop-ups. In response, brands are reportedly accelerating the official release timing of new products. As the trend of wireless earphones is expected to persist for a while, questions arise about wired earphones and ear health, especially in comparison with headphones.

Idols’ CSAT choices unfold as exam halls stay private

Spoilers offer a glimpse of four instrumental tracks from SKZ IT TAPE

IVE defeats the cast team by solving 18 questions and earns six snacks.

Multinational group backed by a major agency reports death threats; affected families

BTS’s V has been named the representative visual of K-pop by a plastic surgeon. The physician, Dr. Lee Kyung-mook, conducted an Ideal Type World Cup on his YouTube channel featuring 32 idols to determine the top K-pop visual. He selected V as the final winner, noting that “V looks great even to men; photos V is overwhelmingly the one men bring to cosmetic consultations,” calling him the ultimate Wannabe star that men want to resemble. V is not only a leading visual for K-pop but also widely recognized as the world’s most handsome man, earning him the nickname “the collector of handsome titles.” Google Trends shows that over the last decade, the topic “The Most Handsome Man” has consistently ranked first, underscoring V’s global recognition for his looks.

HYBE’s so‑called “K‑Pop Methodology” has finally knocked on the Grammys’ door, with Cats Eye—a localization group based in the United States—nominated for Best New Artist at the 68th Grammy Awards set for February 1 next year. This category, one of the General Field prizes, marks a significant milestone as a K‑Pop act reaching the Grammys in a top newcomer slot. Cats Eye is a multinational girl group developed jointly by HYBE and Universal Music Group’s Geffen Records. The lineup includes one Korean member, three Americans, dual citizens from Switzerland and Italy, and dual citizens from the Philippines and the United States.

Two-track career strategies take center stage as idols balance tours and classrooms.

The 2026 CSAT, Korea’s College Scholastic Ability Test, will be held nationwide on the 13th. Idol stars who have balanced promotional activities with academics are expected to demonstrate their commitment as they pursue their studies alongside their careers. Two notable idol students taking the CSAT this year are Han Yu-jin of ZEROBASEONE and Kyungmin of TOURUS. Both have continued their studies amid busy schedules, reportedly setting an example with their steady focus on education. ZEROBASEONE issued a message from its members on their official YouTube channel, saying, “Han Yu-jin, you can do it,” and adding, “We hope our support can be of help to the examinees who are preparing hard at this moment.” The message continued, “To all the test-takers, ZEROSE fans, and Yu-jin, let’s all fight.”

On the December 12 broadcast of tvN's "Three Fifteen," 38 Starship artists gathered for the show's late-night snack-style game. Song Seung-heon picked grapes as his preferred snack. Producer Na Young-seok attempted to mediate, noting that the grapes were something Rei of IVE wanted, but Song Seung-heon firmly declared, "I can't give up," drawing laughter from the set. After a fierce competition, the final win went to IVE. IVE answered 18 questions, overpowering the actor team, and celebrated by earning a lavish assortment of six snacks. After filming, Song Seung-heon, who had to leave for his schedule, exited in a light-hearted mood and offered warm words to Rei. He said, "I'm sorry we couldn't stay together until the end," and added, "Those grapes look delicious. Stay healthy and fight on tomorrow."

Cash purchase of a luxury UN Village villa; seller linked to DL Group

Celebrities turn running into a cultural movement, from social posts to on-screen crews and shows.

Haerin and Hyein announce their return to ADOR in the late afternoon; the remaining three follow suit a few hours later.

The film Travel and the Days hits theaters on December 10. It was awarded the Golden Leopard at this year’s Locarno International Film Festival. The story follows a Korean screenwriter who visits a winter mountain inn, and a screenplay within the film about two people who meet by the summer sea. The original material comes from Yoshiharu Tsuge, a pioneer of Japanese avant-garde manga, notably his 1967 work Beach on the Seacoast and his 1968 work Benya- rado no Ben-sō. Shim Eun-kyung stars as the screenwriter, with Mansaku Takada and Shin’ichi Tsutsumi in the cast.