Jan 05, 2026 PM EST - Hannah
Ahn Sung-ki, South Korea's beloved "Nation's Actor" and cinema legend, died January 5, 2026, at age 74 after battling blood cancer, leaving behind a record-breaking six-decade career with five Grand Bell Awards and approximately 140 films. The Korean entertainment industry mourns the loss of the iconic actor, who collapsed from a choking incident on December 30 and never regained consciousness, with a Film Industry Funeral scheduled for January 9 featuring pallbearers Lee Jung-jae, Jung Woo-sung, and Lee Byung-hun.
Jan 01, 2026 PM EST - Hannah
BTS V becomes the first international artist honored at France's Palace of Versailles after fans adopted a permanent stone bench in the Trianon gardens for his 30th birthday through the palace's official heritage program.
Dec 30, 2025 PM EST - Hannah
BLACKPINK's Jennie opens her first photo exhibition "J2NNI5" in Seoul from January 16-29, 2025, featuring unreleased photos from when she was 25 captured by renowned Korean photographers, with all ticket proceeds donated to charity.
Dec 29, 2025 PM EST - Hannah
BLACKPINK's Rosé claimed first place on TC Candler's "100 Most Beautiful Faces of 2025" list released December 28, becoming the second BLACKPINK member to achieve the honor after Lisa's 2021 win. The rankings showcased strong K-pop representation with Korean artists dominating the top tier, including aespa's Karina (8th), BLACKPINK's Jisoo (11th), and BTS's V leading Korean male artists at 7th place.
Dec 27, 2025 PM EST - Hannah
IU topped Gallup Korea's 2025 year-end survey as the #1 singer among voters aged 13-39 with 20.1% and ranked second in the actress category with 11.3%, solidifying her status as South Korea's top dual-threat entertainer following her Netflix hit "When Life Gives You Tangerines" and May 2025 remake album release.
Dec 26, 2025 PM EST - Hannah
K-pop legend Seo Taiji shared his annual Christmas update on December 25, 2024, revealing autonomous driving technology as his year's highlight while describing a hilarious family moment watching Netflix's "The Tyrant's Chef" when his 1995 hit "Come Back Home" appeared in Joseon-era style. The 52-year-old "President of Culture" apologized for no comeback news but shared Alaska travel memories and health reminders for aging fans.
Dec 17, 2025 PM EST - Hannah
Tottenham released "Heung-Min Son: Homecoming," a documentary chronicling the South Korean forward's emotional December return to North London and his decade-long legacy at the club. The film captures Son's farewell at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where he addressed fans and signed a mural commemorating his 173 goals and Europa League triumph before joining LAFC.
Dec 17, 2025 AM EST - Hannah
DL Group heiress and influencer Lee Joo-young shared backstage photos with BIGBANG's G-Dragon on Instagram following his Übermensch World Tour finale in Seoul on December 14, revealing their longtime friendship dating back to the group's early days. The post highlights the intersection of Korea's chaebol elite and K-pop entertainment world, as Lee—a Georgetown Law student and fourth-generation heir—maintains close ties with the K-pop icon who just wrapped the largest tour by a Korean solo artist with 825,000 fans across 39 shows.
Dec 10, 2025 AM EST - Hannah
Son Heung-min returned to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 9, 2025, where the club unveiled a mural on Tottenham High Road honoring the LAFC star's decade-long legacy, featuring his signature celebration and Europa League trophy lift from May 2025. The 33-year-old South Korean forward delivered an emotional farewell speech to fans, saying "I hope you don't forget me" during his first visit since his summer transfer to MLS.
Dec 09, 2025 PM EST - Hannah
Tottenham Hotspur unveiled a massive mural honoring Son Heung-min on Tottenham High Road on December 9, 2025, as the club legend returned to the stadium for an emotional farewell ceremony before their Champions League match against Slavia Prague. The 33-year-old former captain, who scored 173 goals in 454 appearances and led Spurs to their first trophy in 17 years before joining LAFC in August 2025, addressed fans at the stadium for the first time since his departure.
Dec 09, 2025 PM EST - Hannah
BTS member Jungkook becomes the first Korean solo artist to cover Rolling Stone UK in December 2025 as part of a historic 8-country collaboration, coinciding with his achievement of surpassing 10 billion Spotify streams—the first K-pop soloist to reach this milestone. The 27-year-old artist's covers span Korea, UK, Japan, US, France, India, Philippines, China, and Brazil, with his hit single "Seven" leading at 2.6 billion streams as he prepares for BTS's 2026 reunion.
Dec 09, 2025 PM EST - Hannah
BTS became the first Korean artist to receive a Presidential Commendation at the 2024 Korea Good Donation Awards for their LOVE MYSELF campaign with UNICEF, which has raised $6.6 million and reached 155 countries since 2017. The award recognizes the group's unprecedented charitable impact through their partnership addressing child violence prevention and mental health support, as they prepare for their highly anticipated 2026 comeback and world tour.
Nov 29, 2025 PM EST - Hannah
G-Dragon donated HK$1 million ($189,000 USD) to support victims of Hong Kong's devastating Wang Fuk Court fire that killed at least 128 people, specifically requesting funds support firefighters and psychological recovery programs through his Juspeace Foundation.
Nov 28, 2025 PM EST - Hannah
BTS topped South Korea's November 2025 Star Brand Reputation Rankings with 9.9 million points as global anticipation builds for their comeback album in late 2025 and world tour in 2026 following their June military reunion.
Nov 26, 2025 PM EST - Hannah
Kim Sae-ron's mother released evidence claiming the late actress dated Kim Soo-hyun from age 15, including pre-military messages, 2018 exchanges during his service, and a 2024 letter referencing their "5-6 year" relationship.
Jan 05, 2026 AM EST - Hannah
K-WAVE - Dec 31, 1969 PM EST - Hannah
K-WAVE - Dec 31, 1969 PM EST - Hannah
K-PEOPLE - Dec 31, 1969 PM EST - Hannah
K-WAVE - Dec 31, 1969 PM EST - Hannah
