Tag: KpopNews

Music

BTS Confirms March 20, 2026 Comeback, Ending Nearly Four-Year Hiatus

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Global K-pop sensation BTS has officially announced its long-awaited group comeback, confirming March 20, 2026, as the release date and bringing an end to nearly four years of hiatus. The announcement was shared by BigHit Music on social media, instantly igniting excitement among fans worldwide.

The comeback follows the completion of South Koreaโ€™s mandatory military service by all seven members โ€” RM, Jin, Suga, Jimin, V, Jung Kook and j-hope. Rapper Suga was the final member to conclude his service in June 2025, having served as a social service agent due to a previous shoulder injury. The remaining six members fulfilled their duties in the army, with enlistments carefully staggered to allow individual members to focus on solo music and creative projects during the groupโ€™s break.

In earlier statements, BTS had already hinted at a major return, revealing plans for a world tour and confirming that a new album would arrive in the spring of 2026. The group began working on the album in July 2025, emphasizing that the project would reflect the thoughts, experiences and artistic growth of all seven members.

โ€œThis will be a group album, and it will carry each memberโ€™s ideas and emotions,โ€ the group shared previously. โ€œWeโ€™re approaching it with the same mindset we had when we first started.โ€

The upcoming release will mark BTSโ€™ first group album since 2022โ€™s anthology Proof, following their last studio album Be released in 2020. It also comes after their Japanese compilation BTS, the Best in 2021. As anticipation builds, the March 2026 comeback is expected to be one of the biggest music events of the year, reaffirming BTSโ€™ enduring influence on the global music stage and their deep connection with ARMY worldwide.

Entertainment

RM Issues Heartfelt Apology After Livestream Backlash, Shares Personal Life Update With BTS ARMY

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Entertainment Desk

RM has reached out to BTS ARMY with a heartfelt message following the intense reaction to his recent livestream, where he spoke candidly about the pressures he and the group have faced. His comments about moments when BTS had considered breaking up triggered mixed emotions across the fandom, with some appreciating his honesty and others feeling blindsided. In a long post shared on WeVerse, RM expressed sincere regret for causing any distress, admitting that he had acted out of frustration in the moment. He apologized repeatedly, acknowledging the flood of concerned messages he received afterward and asking fans to look at him with a little kindness during this time.

Alongside his apology, RM shifted the tone by sharing pieces of his everyday life that fans rarely get to see. He revealed that he is preparing to take his driving test and had recently practiced all four training courses, admitting with humor that the experience was scary but, thankfully, crash-free. He also updated fans on his ongoing creative work, mentioning music, choreography practice, and new content ideasโ€”activities that help him stay grounded whenever life feels overwhelming.

He ended his message with a peek into his personal world, sharing that he watched the film The Color of Pomegranates and is finally preparing to move back into his newly finished home after half a year away. Promising to show fans once everything is fully decorated, RM offered a soft moment of connection to counterbalance the tension earlier in the week. With excitement already building for BTSโ€™s highly anticipated group comeback next year, his message served as both reassurance and a reminder of the human moments behind the global superstar image.

Music

Stray Kids Celebrate Billboard Milestone with $740,000 Pure Gold Gift from JYP Founder Park Jin-young

Tanisha Cardozo

Stray Kids, one of the leading groups in K-pop, recently marked a significant milestone by securing their 7th consecutive No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart with their latest studio release, “Karma.” In recognition of this remarkable achievement, Park Jin-young, founder and producer of JYP Entertainment, presented the group with a lavish and symbolic gift โ€” framed gold plaques containing 75 grams of pure gold for each of the eight members.

The heartfelt gift was unveiled on the groupโ€™s official account, accompanied by photos of the members smiling alongside Park Jin-young while proudly holding their gold plaques. One of the plaques is engraved with the words, โ€œIn commemoration of the 7th consecutive Billboard 200 No. 1 album, โ€˜Karma,โ€™โ€ marking the achievement with a lasting tribute. The total value of the gold plaques is estimated at over 100 million won, approximately $740,000.

This generous gesture highlights both Stray Kidsโ€™ growing global influence and Park Jin-youngโ€™s dedication to celebrating his artistsโ€™ milestones in meaningful ways. Beyond his role as a producer and founder of one of South Koreaโ€™s top entertainment companies, Park Jin-young has also been appointed as co-chairman of the Presidential Committee on Cultural Exchange, emphasizing his leadership in the cultural landscape.

Stray Kids continue to gain momentum as one of K-popโ€™s most successful and innovative acts, with “Karma” reinforcing their position on the international stage. This gold gift serves as a testament to their hard work, achievements, and the strong bond between the group and their producer.

Fans and industry observers alike recognize this celebration as a milestone not only for Stray Kids but for K-popโ€™s ongoing global expansion and impact.

Music

Stray Kids Set to Drop 4th Studio Album โ€˜KARMAโ€™ with Explosive Title Track โ€˜CEREMONYโ€™ on August 22

Tanisha Cardozo

The wait is nearly over. Global K-pop sensation Stray Kids is gearing up to release their highly anticipated 4th full-length album โ€˜KARMAโ€™ on August 22, 2025, with the dynamic title track โ€˜CEREMONYโ€™ leading the charge.

Following the success of their dominATE world tour, which wrapped up in July, the group has reignited fan excitement through a series of bold teasers, most recently unveiling two teaser videos for โ€˜CEREMONYโ€™โ€”one on August 15 and the latest on the 19th. These high-energy clips introduce the fictional KARMA SPORTS, a thematic centerpiece for the comeback, showcasing each memberโ€™s charisma and performance flair.

The second teaser begins with Hyunjinโ€™s striking hairstyle etched in a scratched logo, flashing Stray Kidsโ€™ yin-yang symbolโ€”setting the stage for a futuristic, high-stakes arena. Powerful lighting, vivid styling, intense choreography, and sci-fi CG elevate the performance, culminating in the group chanting “CEREMONY” as if to spark a championship match.

The trackโ€™s lyrics, โ€œYeah we gonโ€™ celebrate ’cause we got good Karma,โ€ coupled with commanding stage presence and aggressive energy, signal what fans are calling the groupโ€™s most ambitious title track yet.

All 11 songs on โ€˜KARMAโ€™ are co-produced by 3RACHAโ€”Stray Kidsโ€™ in-house team consisting of Bang Chan, Changbin, and Hanโ€”emphasizing the groupโ€™s consistent commitment to self-producing excellence.

The tracklist includes:

  • CEREMONY
  • CREED
  • ๋ฐ˜์ „ (Half Time)
  • ์—‰๋ง (MESS)
  • In My Head
  • Phoenix
  • Ghost
  • 0801
  • ์‚์ฒ˜๋ฆฌ
  • CEREMONY (Festival Version)
  • CEREMONY (English Version)

The teaser video for track 6, โ€˜๋ฐ˜์ „ (Half Time)โ€™, released on August 17, highlights emotional moments from their dominATE tour, offering a cinematic halftime moment before launching into the albumโ€™s second halfโ€”hinting at themes of transformation, endurance, and resurgence.

  •  Album & Title Track: August 22, 2025
  •  Time: 1 PM KST / Midnight ET
  •  Available on global streaming platforms

With a global fanbase eager for new content, an unrelenting creative team behind the scenes, and a strong comeback narrative, Stray Kids’ KARMA is poised to be a defining moment in K-popโ€™s 2025 landscape.

Music

CORTIS Is Here: BigHit Music Announces New Boy Group Set to Debut August 18

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo

BigHitโ€™s next-generation boy band emerges six years after TXT

In a move that has ignited a new wave of excitement across the K-pop community, BigHit Music โ€” home to global icons BTS and TXT โ€” has unveiled CORTIS, a five-member boy group set to make their debut on August 18.

Announced via a sleek midnight teaser on August 7 KST, the groupโ€™s name, CORTIS, appeared glowing in pink on a laptop screen, sparking immediate buzz. The teaser was accompanied by the reveal of the groupโ€™s full lineup: Martin, James, Juhoon, Seonghyeon, and Keonho โ€” all young talents with a passion for creativity.

Meet the Members of CORTIS

Each member brings something unique to the table, with backgrounds that span songwriting, choreography, and performance:

  • Martin (17) โ€“ A Canadian-Korean artist and the presumed leader, Martin has already built an impressive rรฉsumรฉ behind the scenes. His songwriting credits include TXTโ€™s โ€œDeja Vu,โ€ โ€œMiracle,โ€ and โ€œBeautiful Strangers,โ€ as well as ENHYPENโ€™s โ€œOutside,โ€ LE SSERAFIMโ€™s โ€œPierrot,โ€ and ILLITโ€™s โ€œMagnetic.โ€
  • James (20) โ€“ The eldest member, James is Thai-Chinese and known for his choreography work with TXT and ILLIT. His experience adds a dynamic edge to CORTIS’ stage presence.

Juhoon (17), Seonghyeon (16), and Keonho (16) โ€“ All Korean, these younger members bring fresh energy and promise. Keonho is the groupโ€™s maknae (youngest), but all members are expected to play active roles in shaping the groupโ€™s identity.

Not Just Idols โ€” Creative Visionaries

CORTIS isn’t just another idol group. According to BigHit, the band is designed as a “young creatorsโ€™ crew” โ€” a collective where every member contributes creatively, whether through music composition, visual direction, or performance design.

โ€œThey will express their creative talent based on their own stories,โ€ BigHit shared in a statement. โ€œAll members will take part in the creative process, regardless of their set positions.โ€

This marks a notable shift in the way K-pop groups are structured, giving these young stars greater artistic control and the space to explore their individuality.

The Teaser and Whatโ€™s Next

The teaser may have been minimalist, but fans are already speculating about the upcoming August 10 release at midnight KST on HYBE LABELSโ€™ YouTube channel. Itโ€™s expected to showcase either their debut track or give the first full glimpse into the group’s concept, sound, and aesthetic.

Socials and Fan Connection

CORTISโ€™ official X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok accounts are now live, marking the beginning of their pre-debut journey. Fans can expect behind-the-scenes glimpses, training logs, and maybe even sneak peeks at their debut concept.

With BTS hinting at a long-awaited comeback and TXT continuing to soar, CORTIS is arriving at a pivotal moment in BigHitโ€™s legacy โ€” and they’re ready to carve out a fresh, innovative chapter in K-pop history.