<p>On Friday, K-Pop band&nbsp;BTS dropped their most anticipated video 'Black Swan' in the form of an art film featuring the MN Dance Company. The single is&nbsp;from their new album 'Map of the Soul: 7'<br />
<br />
The popular boy band&nbsp;dropped the music video that is&nbsp;five minutes long and&nbsp;shows impressive choreography by seven dancers, who take the spotlight with no appearance by the band members themselves.</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vGbuUFRdYqU" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>The video opens with a quote from Martha Graham, an inspiration for the song- “A dancer dies twice – once when they stop dancing, and this first death is more painful.”<br />
<br />
As soon as the video was dropped, it led to fan frenzy on social media and&nbsp;the song soon became the&nbsp;trending video&nbsp;within minutes of its release. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bts-singer-jungkook-covers-korean-classic-perhaps-that-was-love-and-the-army-cannot-have-enough-of-it-274408">Also read: BTS singer Jungkook covers Korean classic</a></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">just something small for black swan. i love the music video and wanted to do something to honor it 🖤🦢<br />
<br />
[<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/btsfanart?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#btsfanart</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlackSwan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlackSwan</a>] <a href="https://t.co/FqEYiH4Uc2">pic.twitter.com/FqEYiH4Uc2</a></p>
— jackson⁷ @ spark of hope zine 💖🚒 (@robotica_art) <a href="https://twitter.com/robotica_art/status/1218155645980966913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I'm getting emotional reading ARMYs proud tweets about achieving no.1 for the first time in their countries for <a href="https://twitter.com/BTS_twt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BTS_twt</a> with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlackSwan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlackSwan</a> 😭😭😭 I'm so proud of all of you. Thank you all for loving, continue working hard and growing strong for the boys 💜💜💜</p>
— skye • black 🦢 • CB guide 📌 (@bangtanism89_) <a href="https://twitter.com/bangtanism89_/status/1218151758045859840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">you’re telling me that black swan is already #1 in 89 countries and it’s only been 4 hours??? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlackSwan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlackSwan</a><br />
<a href="https://t.co/KUbLjhkAby">pic.twitter.com/KUbLjhkAby</a></p>
— *･☾ 🦢dóri⁷☽･* (@mikro_kosmos_) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikro_kosmos_/status/1218155699705929730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>The new song comes just a few days ahead of Grammys 2020 and BTS' iHeartRadio. BTS had<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bts-announces-comeback-album-map-of-the-soul-7-with-release-date-272897"> announced </a>their long-awaited comeback album 'Map of the Soul: 7'&nbsp; on January 7. The album will be officially released on Valentine’s Day.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/days-ahead-of-grammy-awards-recording-academy-puts-chief-executive-on-leave-274868">Days ahead of Grammy awards, Academy puts chief executive on leave</a></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


On Friday, K-Pop band BTS dropped their most anticipated video 'Black Swan' in the form of an art film featuring the MN Dance Company. The single is from their new album 'Map of the Soul: 7' The popular boy band dropped the music video that is five minutes long and shows impressive choreography by seven dancers, who take the spotlight with no appearance by the band members themselves.

On Friday, K-Pop band BTS dropped their most anticipated video 'Black Swan' in the form of an art film featuring the MN Dance Company. The single is from their new album 'Map of the Soul: 7' The popular boy band dropped the music video that is five minutes long and shows impressive choreography by seven dancers, who take the spotlight with no appearance by the band members themselves. The video opens with a quote from Martha Graham, an inspiration for the song- “A dancer dies twice – once when they stop dancing, and this first death is more painful.” As soon as the video was dropped, it led to fan frenzy on social media and the song soon became the trending video within minutes of its release. Also read: BTS singer Jungkook covers Korean classic just something small for black swan. i love the music video and wanted to do something to honor it 🖤🦢 [#btsfanart #BlackSwan] pic.twitter.com/FqEYiH4Uc2 — jackson⁷ @ spark of hope zine 💖🚒 (@robotica_art) January 17, 2020 × I'm getting emotional reading ARMYs proud tweets about achieving no.1 for the first time in their countries for @BTS_twt with #BlackSwan 😭😭😭 I'm so proud of all of you. Thank you all for loving, continue working hard and growing strong for the boys 💜💜💜 — skye • black 🦢 • CB guide 📌 (@bangtanism89_) January 17, 2020 × you’re telling me that black swan is already #1 in 89 countries and it’s only been 4 hours??? #BlackSwan pic.twitter.com/KUbLjhkAby — *･☾ 🦢dóri⁷☽･* (@mikro_kosmos_) January 17, 2020 × The new song comes just a few days ahead of Grammys 2020 and BTS' iHeartRadio. BTS had announced their long-awaited comeback album 'Map of the Soul: 7' on January 7. The album will be officially released on Valentine’s Day. Also read: Days ahead of Grammy awards, Academy puts chief executive on leave

BTS drops new single 'Black Swan' from their album 'Map of the Soul: 7'

<p>After a tough year for Korean pop stars with news of suicide and more, there's finally something that you can be happy about.</p>

<p>According to a new announcement, South Korean boy group EXO member Chen has something sweet up his sleeve. He will soon be getting married to his girlfriend who is not from the world of fame as they expect their first child together.</p>

<p>Chen, whose real name is Kim Jongdae made the happy announcement via a handwritten letter to EXO's fancafe. He wrote in the letter that he has a ‘girlfriend’ with whom he would like to be with “the rest of [his] life”.</p>

<p>Chen wrote that he has discussed his decision with his management company SM Entertainment and his fellow EXO members before choosing to share the news publicly.</p>

<p>Soon after his public announcement came, SM Entertainment also released a statement confirming that Chen will be marrying his girlfriend in a private ceremony.</p>

<p>EXO fans, known as EXO-Ls, have come out in support of their idol. This comes as a major surprise because on earlier occasions, fans have criticised the pop industry stars for marrying or choosing to date publicly.</p>

<h2>Read his statement here:</h2>

<p>"Hello, this is Chen.</p>

<p>I am writing this because I have something to tell our fans. I don’t know how to start this, and I’m very nervous. Although these words are not enough, I’m writing this letter because I want to honestly tell our fans, who gave us so much love, first.</p>

<p>I have a girlfriend I want to spend the rest of my life with. I was worried and concerned about the situations that would arise as a result of this decision, but I had been discussing with the agency and our members because I wanted to announce the news at least a little bit earlier so I wouldn’t surprise you with the sudden news.</p>

<p>Then, a blessing came my way. I am also taken aback, as I cannot do what I had planned with the agency and members, but this blessing has given me more strength. I couldn’t lose any more time thinking about when or how I should announce this, so I mustered up my courage.</p>

<p>I’m really thankful for my members for genuinely congratulating me after hearing this news, and I deeply thank our fans for sending me so much undeserving love. I will never forget this feeling of gratitude, do my best in my place without changing, and return the love you have given me. Thank you always.”</p>

<p>On another note, Korean pop has been mired with controversies after several music stars committed suicide last year citing mental health issues and cyber trolling. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/after-sulli-now-online-haters-turn-to-k-pop-stars-ex-boyfriend-256134">Sulli</a>, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/ex-member-of-k-pop-girl-group-found-dead-yonhap-264266">Goo Hara committed suicide </a>last year as sex scandals also rocked the country's music world. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/controversy-lies-and-videotape-k-pop-world-rocked-by-scandals-203245">Also see: Controversy, lies and videotape: K-pop world rocked by scandals</a></p>


After a tough year for Korean pop stars with news of suicide and more, there's finally something that you can be happy about. According to a new announcement, South Korean boy group EXO member Chen has something sweet up his sleeve.

After a tough year for Korean pop stars with news of suicide and more, there's finally something that you can be happy about. According to a new announcement, South Korean boy group EXO member Chen has something sweet up his sleeve. He will soon be getting married to his girlfriend who is not from the world of fame as they expect their first child together. Chen, whose real name is Kim Jongdae made the happy announcement via a handwritten letter to EXO's fancafe. He wrote in the letter that he has a ‘girlfriend’ with whom he would like to be with “the rest of [his] life”. Chen wrote that he has discussed his decision with his management company SM Entertainment and his fellow EXO members before choosing to share the news publicly. Soon after his public announcement came, SM Entertainment also released a statement confirming that Chen will be marrying his girlfriend in a private ceremony. EXO fans, known as EXO-Ls, have come out in support of their idol. This comes as a major surprise because on earlier occasions, fans have criticised the pop industry stars for marrying or choosing to date publicly. Read his statement here: "Hello, this is Chen. I am writing this because I have something to tell our fans. I don’t know how to start this, and I’m very nervous. Although these words are not enough, I’m writing this letter because I want to honestly tell our fans, who gave us so much love, first. I have a girlfriend I want to spend the rest of my life with. I was worried and concerned about the situations that would arise as a result of this decision, but I had been discussing with the agency and our members because I wanted to announce the news at least a little bit earlier so I wouldn’t surprise you with the sudden news. Then, a blessing came my way. I am also taken aback, as I cannot do what I had planned with the agency and members, but this blessing has given me more strength. I couldn’t lose any more time thinking about when or how I should announce this, so I mustered up my courage. I’m really thankful for my members for genuinely congratulating me after hearing this news, and I deeply thank our fans for sending me so much undeserving love. I will never forget this feeling of gratitude, do my best in my place without changing, and return the love you have given me. Thank you always.” On another note, Korean pop has been mired with controversies after several music stars committed suicide last year citing mental health issues and cyber trolling. Sulli, Goo Hara committed suicide last year as sex scandals also rocked the country's music world. Also see: Controversy, lies and videotape: K-pop world rocked by scandals

K-pop star Chen announces marriage as he's expecting a baby with girlfriend

<p>K Pop band BIGBANG is making a comeback of sorts at Coachella music festival in April 2020. The band has been on a hiatus for some time now- they released their song 'Flower Road' back in March 2018 and their album came out in 2016.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
On Friday, BIGBANG found mention as the official Twitter handle of Coachella announced its line up of artists.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="und"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BIGBANG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BIGBANG</a> 2020 <a href="https://twitter.com/coachella?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachella</a> 🌵<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%EB%B9%85%EB%B1%85?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#빅뱅</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COACHELLA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COACHELLA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%EC%BD%94%EC%B2%BC%EB%9D%BC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#코첼라</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/2020_LINEUP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#2020_LINEUP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YG</a> <a href="https://t.co/8T9UgENSOi">pic.twitter.com/8T9UgENSOi</a></p>
— YG FAMILY (@ygent_official) <a href="https://twitter.com/ygent_official/status/1212946722478911488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>This is the first announcement of the band's performance since they went on a hiatus after some of its members enlisted in South Korea's military and singer Seungri left the group amid legal and criminal investigations against him.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
BIGBANG will be performing on Friday events at Coachella which will be held on April 10 and 17.<br />
<br />
Korean media has been speculating that the band has broke up owing to the investigations against Seungri. But with Friday's announcement, that speculation may have been put to rest.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Weekend 1 is sold out 🌴 Register for Weekend 2 presale at <a href="https://t.co/x8PRTb12Eh">https://t.co/x8PRTb12Eh</a>. Presale starts Monday 1/6 at 12pm PT <a href="https://t.co/QPRYnJVe9P">pic.twitter.com/QPRYnJVe9P</a></p>
— Coachella (@coachella) <a href="https://twitter.com/coachella/status/1212933086704308226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Rage Against the Machine, Travis Scott and Frank Ocean are some of the artists who will be performing at Coachella this year.&nbsp;</p>


K Pop band BIGBANG is making a comeback of sorts at Coachella music festival in April 2020. The band has been on a hiatus for some time now- they released their song 'Flower Road' back in March 2018 and their album came out in 2016.

K Pop band BIGBANG is making a comeback of sorts at Coachella music festival in April 2020. The band has been on a hiatus for some time now- they released their song 'Flower Road' back in March 2018 and their album came out in 2016. On Friday, BIGBANG found mention as the official Twitter handle of Coachella announced its line up of artists. #BIGBANG 2020 @coachella 🌵#빅뱅 #COACHELLA #코첼라 #2020_LINEUP #YG pic.twitter.com/8T9UgENSOi — YG FAMILY (@ygent_official) January 3, 2020 × This is the first announcement of the band's performance since they went on a hiatus after some of its members enlisted in South Korea's military and singer Seungri left the group amid legal and criminal investigations against him. BIGBANG will be performing on Friday events at Coachella which will be held on April 10 and 17. Korean media has been speculating that the band has broke up owing to the investigations against Seungri. But with Friday's announcement, that speculation may have been put to rest. Weekend 1 is sold out 🌴 Register for Weekend 2 presale at https://t.co/x8PRTb12Eh. Presale starts Monday 1/6 at 12pm PT pic.twitter.com/QPRYnJVe9P — Coachella (@coachella) January 3, 2020 × Rage Against the Machine, Travis Scott and Frank Ocean are some of the artists who will be performing at Coachella this year.

K- Pop band BIGBANG to make a comeback in Coachella this year

<p>South Korean K-Pop boy-band BTS stole the show at `Dick Clark`s Rockin` Eve` event in front of a million-strong crowd at the Times Square.<br />
<br />
Host Ryan Secret already believed that half of the spectators at the New Year Eve`s event would be K-Pop fans and the crowd`s response confirmed his predictions.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
K-pop fanatics came in hoards to cheer for the music group which has Jimin, Jin, RM, Suga, Jungkook, J Hope, and V Kim Tae-Hyung as its members.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">2014: BTS performs in Korea for 200 people.<br />
<br />
2020: BTS performs in New York Times Square at New Year's Eve in front of 1.5 million people. <a href="https://t.co/FKxHy6Nlol">pic.twitter.com/FKxHy6Nlol</a></p>
— ح (@37daesangs) <a href="https://twitter.com/37daesangs/status/1212095244528951297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">THIS IS HOW NEW YORK CELEBRATE NEW YEARS EVE AT TIME SQUARE? IMAGINE HOW 50%+ ARMYS ARE FAN CHANTING<br />
"KIM NAMJOON KIM SEOKJIN MIN YOONGI JUNG HOSEOK PARK JIMIN KIM TAEHYUNG JEON JUNGKOOK BTS"<br />
LOCALS GONNA BE SHOOOKKTTTTT <a href="https://t.co/Aok2zspwza">pic.twitter.com/Aok2zspwza</a></p>
— Kumareng Yoongi (@kumarengyoongi_) <a href="https://twitter.com/kumarengyoongi_/status/1212092190320521217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>BTS was all over the billboards at Times Square and die-hard fans turned up beforehand with signs boards and light sticks in their hands to witness the band`s rehearsal in the early afternoon.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">BTS @ TIMES SQUARE<br />
HAPPY NEW YEAR 🎆 <a href="https://t.co/PWxrmkN2RX">pic.twitter.com/PWxrmkN2RX</a></p>
— bts pics (@allbtspics) <a href="https://twitter.com/allbtspics/status/1212242173695070209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Looking sharp&nbsp;dressed in black and white, the boy band started off with the song 'Make It Right' then finished the performance with a bang, singing their hit `Boy With Luv.'<br />
<br />
Each of the five members stole every opportunity to showcase themselves separately with smooth choreography moves, where Jimin stole everyone`s heart when he pulled his jacket over his head, something like a hoodie. The k-pop group shared the stage with stars by the likes of Post Malone, country singer Sam Hunt, and Lauren Patten.</p>


South Korean K-Pop boy-band BTS stole the show at `Dick Clark`s Rockin` Eve` event in front of a million-strong crowd at the Times Square. Host Ryan Secret already believed that half of the spectators at the New Year Eve`s event would be K-Pop fans and the crowd`s response confirmed his predictions.

South Korean K-Pop boy-band BTS stole the show at `Dick Clark`s Rockin` Eve` event in front of a million-strong crowd at the Times Square. Host Ryan Secret already believed that half of the spectators at the New Year Eve`s event would be K-Pop fans and the crowd`s response confirmed his predictions. K-pop fanatics came in hoards to cheer for the music group which has Jimin, Jin, RM, Suga, Jungkook, J Hope, and V Kim Tae-Hyung as its members. 2014: BTS performs in Korea for 200 people. 2020: BTS performs in New York Times Square at New Year's Eve in front of 1.5 million people. pic.twitter.com/FKxHy6Nlol — ح (@37daesangs) December 31, 2019 × THIS IS HOW NEW YORK CELEBRATE NEW YEARS EVE AT TIME SQUARE? IMAGINE HOW 50%+ ARMYS ARE FAN CHANTING "KIM NAMJOON KIM SEOKJIN MIN YOONGI JUNG HOSEOK PARK JIMIN KIM TAEHYUNG JEON JUNGKOOK BTS" LOCALS GONNA BE SHOOOKKTTTTT pic.twitter.com/Aok2zspwza — Kumareng Yoongi (@kumarengyoongi_) December 31, 2019 × BTS was all over the billboards at Times Square and die-hard fans turned up beforehand with signs boards and light sticks in their hands to witness the band`s rehearsal in the early afternoon. BTS @ TIMES SQUARE HAPPY NEW YEAR 🎆 pic.twitter.com/PWxrmkN2RX — bts pics (@allbtspics) January 1, 2020 × Looking sharp dressed in black and white, the boy band started off with the song 'Make It Right' then finished the performance with a bang, singing their hit `Boy With Luv.' Each of the five members stole every opportunity to showcase themselves separately with smooth choreography moves, where Jimin stole everyone`s heart when he pulled his jacket over his head, something like a hoodie. The k-pop group shared the stage with stars by the likes of Post Malone, country singer Sam Hunt, and Lauren Patten.

BTS takes over Times Square on New Year's eve with a rocking performance

<p>Two of the biggest stars of K-Pop, &nbsp;Momo from JYP girl group TWICE, and Kim Heechul from SM's Super junior, are reportedly dating.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
According to Korean website Soompi, the news was confirmed by Market News which, in its exclusive report, stated that Momo and Heechul are dating.<br />
<br />
The same outlet had earlier in August 2019 reported that Momo and Heechul were in a relationship which the representatives of the two artists had denied at that time.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">BREAKING: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SuperJunior?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SuperJunior</a>'s Kim Heechul And <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TWICE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TWICE</a>'s Momo Confirmed To Be Dating <a href="https://t.co/pZjRA07npY">https://t.co/pZjRA07npY</a> <a href="https://t.co/LN1moKLU6c">pic.twitter.com/LN1moKLU6c</a></p>
— Soompi (@soompi) <a href="https://twitter.com/soompi/status/1212510329260912641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>The two artists have been seen together on several shows before. Kim Heechul and Momo, popular in their own right, have been seen together in several shows before. Momo, who hails from Japan and is a professional dancer as well, is 13 years younger to Heechul.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Fans though are just happy that two have started dating and are ready to ignore the age gap between the two.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">CONGRATS TO THIS COUPLE 💞💞 <a href="https://t.co/YuUSMjd9mi">pic.twitter.com/YuUSMjd9mi</a></p>
— Kim yohan 🦋ㅇㅇ🦋 (@centerbunny) <a href="https://twitter.com/centerbunny/status/1212510808367935488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">CONGRATS TO THIS COUPLE 💞💞 <a href="https://t.co/YuUSMjd9mi">pic.twitter.com/YuUSMjd9mi</a></p>
— Kim yohan 🦋ㅇㅇ🦋 (@centerbunny) <a href="https://twitter.com/centerbunny/status/1212510808367935488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">a reminder to everyone hating on momo and heechul dating: <a href="https://t.co/osYTraDw19">pic.twitter.com/osYTraDw19</a></p>
— 𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖 (@sakookies) <a href="https://twitter.com/sakookies/status/1212570550846902272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Momo found her other weird and funny half <a href="https://t.co/yn8cTU4ZEs">pic.twitter.com/yn8cTU4ZEs</a></p>
— tiff (@dramasjihyo) <a href="https://twitter.com/dramasjihyo/status/1212555084829253632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>On Thursday, 'Momo' became a Twitter trend worldwide as fans woke up to the news.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Interestingly, JYP Entertainment, which owns label TWICE, had a ban on dating for its artists earlier. The ban was eventually lifted last year when the news of TWICE band member Jihyo dating K-pop idol Kang Daniel came into light.</p>


Two of the biggest stars of K-Pop, Momo from JYP girl group TWICE, and Kim Heechul from SM's Super junior, are reportedly dating. According to Korean website Soompi, the news was confirmed by Market News which, in its exclusive report, stated that Momo and Heechul are dating.

Two of the biggest stars of K-Pop, Momo from JYP girl group TWICE, and Kim Heechul from SM's Super junior, are reportedly dating. According to Korean website Soompi, the news was confirmed by Market News which, in its exclusive report, stated that Momo and Heechul are dating. The same outlet had earlier in August 2019 reported that Momo and Heechul were in a relationship which the representatives of the two artists had denied at that time. BREAKING: #SuperJunior's Kim Heechul And #TWICE's Momo Confirmed To Be Dating https://t.co/pZjRA07npY pic.twitter.com/LN1moKLU6c — Soompi (@soompi) January 1, 2020 × The two artists have been seen together on several shows before. Kim Heechul and Momo, popular in their own right, have been seen together in several shows before. Momo, who hails from Japan and is a professional dancer as well, is 13 years younger to Heechul. Fans though are just happy that two have started dating and are ready to ignore the age gap between the two. CONGRATS TO THIS COUPLE 💞💞 pic.twitter.com/YuUSMjd9mi — Kim yohan 🦋ㅇㅇ🦋 (@centerbunny) January 1, 2020 × CONGRATS TO THIS COUPLE 💞💞 pic.twitter.com/YuUSMjd9mi — Kim yohan 🦋ㅇㅇ🦋 (@centerbunny) January 1, 2020 × a reminder to everyone hating on momo and heechul dating: pic.twitter.com/osYTraDw19 — 𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖 (@sakookies) January 2, 2020 × Momo found her other weird and funny half pic.twitter.com/yn8cTU4ZEs — tiff (@dramasjihyo) January 2, 2020 × On Thursday, 'Momo' became a Twitter trend worldwide as fans woke up to the news. Interestingly, JYP Entertainment, which owns label TWICE, had a ban on dating for its artists earlier. The ban was eventually lifted last year when the news of TWICE band member Jihyo dating K-pop idol Kang Daniel came into light.

K-Pop stars Kim Heechul and Momo are officially a couple and fans cannot contain their excitement

<p>In the early hours of a freezing Christmas Eve, 62-year-old Lee Myeong-sook queues up in Seoul's ritzy Gangnam area for a chance to buy a t-shirt, or maybe even a toothbrush, branded with the logo of K-Pop boyband BTS.</p>

<p>The rest of the district is all but deserted, but a huge line of fans of all ages and nationalities is building up around her outside the pop-up shop "House of BTS", dedicated to the seven-piece behind "Boy With Luv" and other hits.</p>

<p>K-Pop management agencies, including BTS' Big Hit Entertainment, have been expanding their retail operations to capitalise on a merchandising boom - this is the band's first outlet in Seoul with others popping up as far afield as Mexico.</p>

<p>"I want to buy some cushions, dolls, badges, things like that today, and notebooks to give to my friends," said Lee, who waited in line with her 35-year-old daughter.</p>

<p>Branded jackets sell for 299,000 won ($257) alongside socks, sleep masks and other merchandise linked to the band which has spearheaded a wave of Korean pop music and become the first group since the Beatles to have three number one albums in the United States in less than a year.</p>

<p>Analysts say demand for the gear is growing as the popularity of K-Pop bands spreads beyond the domestic market across other parts of Asia and into the West.</p>

<p>Japanese fans outside the store told Reuters they had flown in because the Gangnam store "had more stuff" than the three BTS stores in their own country. About 1,500 fans or more visited the store during a single day last week.</p>

<p>"I’m hoping to buy whatever I can," said Rebecca Mould, 25, originally from the U.S. city of Boston, a BTS fan for about two years on her first visit to the store. "I already have a lot, so whatever else there is..."</p>

<p>Big Hit - an unlisted company with investments from South Korea's STIC Investments and China's Legend Capital - has launched an app called Weply to sell "merch" to fans worldwide.</p>

<p>It has also partnered with Line Friends, an affiliate of South Korea's top internet firm Naver &lt;035420.KS&gt;, to sell goods linked to the "BT21" animated characters designed by members of BTS.</p>

<p>"The constant derivation of new products seem to contribute a lot (to sales)," said Han Sang-woung, analyst at Eugene Investment Co Ltd, who estimated agencies' merchandise profit margins at around 20%.</p>


In the early hours of a freezing Christmas Eve, 62-year-old Lee Myeong-sook queues up in Seoul's ritzy Gangnam area for a chance to buy a t-shirt, or maybe even a toothbrush, branded with the logo of K-Pop boyband BTS.

In the early hours of a freezing Christmas Eve, 62-year-old Lee Myeong-sook queues up in Seoul's ritzy Gangnam area for a chance to buy a t-shirt, or maybe even a toothbrush, branded with the logo of K-Pop boyband BTS. The rest of the district is all but deserted, but a huge line of fans of all ages and nationalities is building up around her outside the pop-up shop "House of BTS", dedicated to the seven-piece behind "Boy With Luv" and other hits. K-Pop management agencies, including BTS' Big Hit Entertainment, have been expanding their retail operations to capitalise on a merchandising boom - this is the band's first outlet in Seoul with others popping up as far afield as Mexico. "I want to buy some cushions, dolls, badges, things like that today, and notebooks to give to my friends," said Lee, who waited in line with her 35-year-old daughter. Branded jackets sell for 299,000 won ($257) alongside socks, sleep masks and other merchandise linked to the band which has spearheaded a wave of Korean pop music and become the first group since the Beatles to have three number one albums in the United States in less than a year. Analysts say demand for the gear is growing as the popularity of K-Pop bands spreads beyond the domestic market across other parts of Asia and into the West. Japanese fans outside the store told Reuters they had flown in because the Gangnam store "had more stuff" than the three BTS stores in their own country. About 1,500 fans or more visited the store during a single day last week. "I’m hoping to buy whatever I can," said Rebecca Mould, 25, originally from the U.S. city of Boston, a BTS fan for about two years on her first visit to the store. "I already have a lot, so whatever else there is..." Big Hit - an unlisted company with investments from South Korea's STIC Investments and China's Legend Capital - has launched an app called Weply to sell "merch" to fans worldwide. It has also partnered with Line Friends, an affiliate of South Korea's top internet firm Naver <035420.KS>, to sell goods linked to the "BT21" animated characters designed by members of BTS. "The constant derivation of new products seem to contribute a lot (to sales)," said Han Sang-woung, analyst at Eugene Investment Co Ltd, who estimated agencies' merchandise profit margins at around 20%.

K-Pop fans brave Seoul's Christmas chill to buy BTS 'merch'

<p>Korean actor Cha In-ha was found dead in his apartment on Tuesday. This is the third death reported of a Korean celebrity in a matter of couple months sparking rumours of a negative environment that the entertainment industry is functioning in.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Merely 27 years old, Cha In-ha was best known for his roles in Korean dramas ‘The Banker’ and ‘Love with Flaws’.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Confirming Cha In-ha’s death, Korean entertainment website Soompi reported that the actor’s agency Fantagio issued a statement, "We feel devastated to deliver such heartbreaking and unfortunate news. On December 3, actor Cha In Ha left our sides. We are truly heartbroken to deliver sad news to everyone who has sent lots of love and support to Cha In Ha until now. We are filled with grief at this news that is still hard to believe.”</p>

<p>The agency has also requested fans to avoid rumours and "speculative reports to not be released in order for his family, who is experiencing greater sadness more than anyone due to the sudden sad news, to send him away peacefully. As wished by his family, the funeral will be held privately."</p>

<p>The news of his death comes right after K-pop singer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/ex-member-of-k-pop-girl-group-found-dead-yonhap-264266">Goo Hara</a> was found dead at the age of 28. Before her, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/fans-celebrities-mourn-death-of-k-pop-star-sulli-256033">K-pop star Sulli</a> had also committed suicide in October at the age of 25.&nbsp;</p>


Korean actor Cha In-ha was found dead in his apartment on Tuesday. This is the third death reported of a Korean celebrity in a matter of couple months sparking rumours of a negative environment that the entertainment industry is functioning in.

Korean actor Cha In-ha was found dead in his apartment on Tuesday. This is the third death reported of a Korean celebrity in a matter of couple months sparking rumours of a negative environment that the entertainment industry is functioning in. Merely 27 years old, Cha In-ha was best known for his roles in Korean dramas ‘The Banker’ and ‘Love with Flaws’. Confirming Cha In-ha’s death, Korean entertainment website Soompi reported that the actor’s agency Fantagio issued a statement, "We feel devastated to deliver such heartbreaking and unfortunate news. On December 3, actor Cha In Ha left our sides. We are truly heartbroken to deliver sad news to everyone who has sent lots of love and support to Cha In Ha until now. We are filled with grief at this news that is still hard to believe.” The agency has also requested fans to avoid rumours and "speculative reports to not be released in order for his family, who is experiencing greater sadness more than anyone due to the sudden sad news, to send him away peacefully. As wished by his family, the funeral will be held privately." The news of his death comes right after K-pop singer Goo Hara was found dead at the age of 28. Before her, K-pop star Sulli had also committed suicide in October at the age of 25.

After Sulli and Goo Hara, another Korean star found dead at his residence

<p>K-pop stars <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/second-south-korean-star-quits-as-k-pop-sex-scandal-spreads-202987">Jung Joon-young </a>and Choi Jong-hoon have been awarded jail sentence for gangraping drunk unconscious women. Jung has been given six years in jail and Choi has received a five-year term.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Jung was also additional charged for filming and distributing footage of the rape, the Seoul Central District Court announced the&nbsp;verdict on Friday.<br />
<br />
The two convicted musicians have to go through 80 hours of sexual violence treatment courses and have been banned from working with children.</p>

<p>The court revealed that Jung, who was arrested in March, was a member of several online chat groups that shared <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-arrests-two-for-spy-cameras-that-live-streamed-1600-motel-guests-204668">sex tapes </a>and circulated jokes about drugging and raping women.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
This is the latest in several sex scandals that have rocked the K-pop world scene lately, in recent years.<br />
<br />
Delivering the sentence, judge Kang Seong-soo said that Jung had raped women who were "drunk and unable to resist, filmed them nude and having sex, then spread it on a group chat".&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The shocking revelation about the two pop stars apparently came out while the police were probing a separate case -- involving K-pop superstar <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/k-pop-big-bang-member-booked-on-alleged-sex-bribery-company-shares-drop-202510">Seungri </a>who was reportedly a member of Jung`s group chat.</p>

<p>Seungri, who fronted a popular boy band named Big-bang, was charged with supplying prostitutes to potential business investors.</p>


K-pop stars Jung Joon-young and Choi Jong-hoon have been awarded jail sentence for gangraping drunk unconscious women. Jung has been given six years in jail and Choi has received a five-year term.

K-pop stars Jung Joon-young and Choi Jong-hoon have been awarded jail sentence for gangraping drunk unconscious women. Jung has been given six years in jail and Choi has received a five-year term. Jung was also additional charged for filming and distributing footage of the rape, the Seoul Central District Court announced the verdict on Friday. The two convicted musicians have to go through 80 hours of sexual violence treatment courses and have been banned from working with children. The court revealed that Jung, who was arrested in March, was a member of several online chat groups that shared sex tapes and circulated jokes about drugging and raping women. This is the latest in several sex scandals that have rocked the K-pop world scene lately, in recent years. Delivering the sentence, judge Kang Seong-soo said that Jung had raped women who were "drunk and unable to resist, filmed them nude and having sex, then spread it on a group chat". The shocking revelation about the two pop stars apparently came out while the police were probing a separate case -- involving K-pop superstar Seungri who was reportedly a member of Jung`s group chat. Seungri, who fronted a popular boy band named Big-bang, was charged with supplying prostitutes to potential business investors.

K-pop stars Jung Joon-young and Choi Jong-hoon sentenced to jail for raping woman, sharing videos online

<p>A former member of South Korea's top <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/k-pop-singer-decries-cyber-bullying-after-death-of-activist-star-sulli-256365">K-pop </a>girl group was found dead on Sunday, the country's Yonhap news agency reported citing police.</p>

<p>The body of Goo Hara, 28, was discovered at her home in southern Seoul, Yonhap said.</p>

<p>Police were not immediately available for comment.</p>

<p>Goo, better known as Hara in other parts of Asia, had spoken out against cyberbullying. In June, a month after she was found unconscious at her home and hospitalised, she said it was difficult to overcome depression and pleaded for the positive comment on social media.</p>

<p>She debuted with the five-member Kara in 2008. It was one of the early girl groups that helped fan the global K-pop wave, building large fan bases in Japan, China and other countries.</p>

<p>After a deal with a South Korean management agency was terminated, Goo launched a career as a solo artist in Japan and held a concert there this month.</p>

<p>Another K-pop star, Sulli, a former member of girl group f(x), who was a close friend of Goo's and had also spoken out against cyberbullying, also died in October.</p>


A former member of South Korea's top K-pop girl group was found dead on Sunday, the country's Yonhap news agency reported citing police. The body of Goo Hara, 28, was discovered at her home in southern Seoul, Yonhap said.

A former member of South Korea's top K-pop girl group was found dead on Sunday, the country's Yonhap news agency reported citing police. The body of Goo Hara, 28, was discovered at her home in southern Seoul, Yonhap said. Police were not immediately available for comment. Goo, better known as Hara in other parts of Asia, had spoken out against cyberbullying. In June, a month after she was found unconscious at her home and hospitalised, she said it was difficult to overcome depression and pleaded for the positive comment on social media. She debuted with the five-member Kara in 2008. It was one of the early girl groups that helped fan the global K-pop wave, building large fan bases in Japan, China and other countries. After a deal with a South Korean management agency was terminated, Goo launched a career as a solo artist in Japan and held a concert there this month. Another K-pop star, Sulli, a former member of girl group f(x), who was a close friend of Goo's and had also spoken out against cyberbullying, also died in October.

Ex-member of K-pop girl group, singer Goo Hara found dead: State media

<p>K-pop singer Koo Hara left a "pessimistic" note, police said on Monday, a day after the former member of top South Korean girl group Kara was found dead.</p>

<p>"A handwritten note that was pessimistic about her life was found on a living room table," Lee Yong-pyo, commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, told reporters.</p>

<p>Fans mourning Koo's death flocked to her funeral home on Monday, while her colleagues cancelled their schedules and relayed condolences.</p>

<p>Koo, 28, was discovered at her home in southern Seoul by her maid at around 6 p.m. (0900 GMT) on Sunday, Lee said.</p>

<p>Better known as Hara in other parts of Asia, Koo had spoken out against cyberbullying.</p>

<p>In June, a month after she was found unconscious at her home and hospitalised, she said on social media that it was difficult to fight depression and vowed to respond sternly to malicious online comment.</p>

<p>"It is so sad that she had to suffer from vicious, inhumane comments at such a young age just because she was a celebrity," 20-year-old student Kim Nam-gun told Reuters, one of about two dozen fans who gathered at the funeral home.</p>

<p>Koo debuted with five-member band Kara in 2008. They helped fan the global K-pop wave, building large fan bases in Japan, China and other countries.</p>

<p>After her deal with a South Korean management agency was terminated, Koo launched a solo career in Japan and held a concert there this month.</p>

<p>Another K-pop star, Sulli, a former member of girl group f(x) and a close friend of Koo's, was found dead at her home in October. Sulli, 25, whose real name was Choi Jin-ri, had also spoken out about cyberbullying.</p>


K-pop singer Koo Hara left a "pessimistic" note, police said on Monday, a day after the former member of top South Korean girl group Kara was found dead. "A handwritten note that was pessimistic about her life was found on a living room table," Lee Yong-pyo, commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, told reporters.

K-pop singer Koo Hara left a "pessimistic" note, police said on Monday, a day after the former member of top South Korean girl group Kara was found dead. "A handwritten note that was pessimistic about her life was found on a living room table," Lee Yong-pyo, commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, told reporters. Fans mourning Koo's death flocked to her funeral home on Monday, while her colleagues cancelled their schedules and relayed condolences. Koo, 28, was discovered at her home in southern Seoul by her maid at around 6 p.m. (0900 GMT) on Sunday, Lee said. Better known as Hara in other parts of Asia, Koo had spoken out against cyberbullying. In June, a month after she was found unconscious at her home and hospitalised, she said on social media that it was difficult to fight depression and vowed to respond sternly to malicious online comment. "It is so sad that she had to suffer from vicious, inhumane comments at such a young age just because she was a celebrity," 20-year-old student Kim Nam-gun told Reuters, one of about two dozen fans who gathered at the funeral home. Koo debuted with five-member band Kara in 2008. They helped fan the global K-pop wave, building large fan bases in Japan, China and other countries. After her deal with a South Korean management agency was terminated, Koo launched a solo career in Japan and held a concert there this month. Another K-pop star, Sulli, a former member of girl group f(x) and a close friend of Koo's, was found dead at her home in October. Sulli, 25, whose real name was Choi Jin-ri, had also spoken out about cyberbullying.

K-pop star Koo Hara left 'pessimistic' note: Police

<p>An annual K-pop festival is not happening in Hong Kong this year due <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watching-situation-in-hong-kong-with-grave-concern-us-261489">to months-long political unrest</a>, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said on Monday.<br />
<br />
Hong Kong has hosted the Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) since 2012, where top K-pop artists including global phenomenon boyband BTS performed for years. In previous years, tens of thousands of K-pop fans packed stadiums in Hong Kong for the awards.<br />
<br />
The move follows a number of organisers delaying or cancelling sports, concerts and other events due to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kongs-carrie-lam-says-violence-exceeded-calls-for-democracy-police-defend-officers-who-shot-at-protesters-261394">pro-democracy protests</a>. Hong Kong`s premier women's tennis event planned for October was postponed.</p>

<p><strong>Watch Video:</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hong-kong-protests-carrie-lam-condemns-mondays-violence-261492/embed" width="560" height="350" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" autoplay=1 allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

<p>The city`s soccer matches were also postponed.&nbsp;Hong Kong police shot and critically wounded a protester and a man was doused with petrol and set on fire on Monday as the Chinese-ruled territory spiralled into rare working-day violence in its 24th week of unrest.<br />
<br />
"This year, after internal discussions, the MAMA organizer decided not to hold the event in Hong Kong because of the protests," the source said.<br />
<br />
South Korea`s CJ ENM Co Ltd, the show's organizer, told Reuters in a statement that Hong Kong had not been chosen as the event`s venue, considering "various circumstances," without elaborating.<br />
<br />
The music awards will take place in Nagoya, Japan on Dec. 4, CJ ENM added.</p>


An annual K-pop festival is not happening in Hong Kong this year due to months-long political unrest, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said on Monday.

An annual K-pop festival is not happening in Hong Kong this year due to months-long political unrest, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said on Monday. Hong Kong has hosted the Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) since 2012, where top K-pop artists including global phenomenon boyband BTS performed for years. In previous years, tens of thousands of K-pop fans packed stadiums in Hong Kong for the awards. The move follows a number of organisers delaying or cancelling sports, concerts and other events due to the pro-democracy protests. Hong Kong`s premier women's tennis event planned for October was postponed. Watch Video: The city`s soccer matches were also postponed. Hong Kong police shot and critically wounded a protester and a man was doused with petrol and set on fire on Monday as the Chinese-ruled territory spiralled into rare working-day violence in its 24th week of unrest. "This year, after internal discussions, the MAMA organizer decided not to hold the event in Hong Kong because of the protests," the source said. South Korea`s CJ ENM Co Ltd, the show's organizer, told Reuters in a statement that Hong Kong had not been chosen as the event`s venue, considering "various circumstances," without elaborating. The music awards will take place in Nagoya, Japan on Dec. 4, CJ ENM added.

K-pop top awards show skips Hong Kong due to protests: Source

<p>A member of South Korean boy band BTS is being investigated by police after admitting he was at fault in a crash between a car he was driving and a taxi, the group`s management said.<br />
<br />
Jung Kook, the group`s main vocalist, was driving in central Seoul last week when he hit a taxi due to an "an error on his part," manager Big Hit Entertainment said on Monday. The 22-year-old immediately admitted violating traffic laws and was questioned by police.<br />
"Both the victim and Jung Kook did not sustain major injuries," Big Hit said in a statement.<br />
<br />
"He made a statement at the police department and reached an amicable settlement with the victim."<br />
<br />
Management for Jung Kook, whose full name is Jeon Jung-kook, apologised to the victim and concerned fans. It did not give further details about the cause of the accident, citing an ongoing investigation, but local media said he violated a traffic signal.<br />
<br />
Police officials in the central Seoul district of Yongsan declined to comment, citing internal rules.<br />
<br />
The seven-strong BTS has spearheaded a wave of Korean pop music, crowning their success with three No. 1 albums on the Billboard chart in less than a year, a 2019 Grammy nomination and concerts from New York to Saudi Arabia.<br />
<br />
The group last week wrapped up a world tour that included 10 cities and saw them perform in front of more than 1 million fans in total.</p>


A member of South Korean boy band BTS is being investigated by police after admitting he was at fault in a crash between a car he was driving and a taxi, the group`s management said.

A member of South Korean boy band BTS is being investigated by police after admitting he was at fault in a crash between a car he was driving and a taxi, the group`s management said. Jung Kook, the group`s main vocalist, was driving in central Seoul last week when he hit a taxi due to an "an error on his part," manager Big Hit Entertainment said on Monday. The 22-year-old immediately admitted violating traffic laws and was questioned by police. "Both the victim and Jung Kook did not sustain major injuries," Big Hit said in a statement. "He made a statement at the police department and reached an amicable settlement with the victim." Management for Jung Kook, whose full name is Jeon Jung-kook, apologised to the victim and concerned fans. It did not give further details about the cause of the accident, citing an ongoing investigation, but local media said he violated a traffic signal. Police officials in the central Seoul district of Yongsan declined to comment, citing internal rules. The seven-strong BTS has spearheaded a wave of Korean pop music, crowning their success with three No. 1 albums on the Billboard chart in less than a year, a 2019 Grammy nomination and concerts from New York to Saudi Arabia. The group last week wrapped up a world tour that included 10 cities and saw them perform in front of more than 1 million fans in total.

Singer in K-pop boyband BTS investigated after car crash 'error'

<p>Sulli, a former South Korean singer-actress, was a rare taboo breaker in a world where K-pop stars` every move is strictly monitored by their management, but her death has exposed the dark side of the industry that propelled a global craze.<br />
<br />
She unveiled her romantic relationship at the height of her career as a member of top girl group f(x) and was vocal about not wearing a bra, defying both the K-pop world`s careful brand management and conservative social attitudes towards young women - and provoking a stream of online comment. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/after-sulli-now-online-haters-turn-to-k-pop-stars-ex-boyfriend-256134">Also see:&nbsp;After Sulli, now online haters turn to K-pop star's ex boyfriend</a><br />
<br />
Before her <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/k-pop-star-sulli-found-dead-report-255866">death on Monday </a>aged 25, Sulli, whose real name was Choi Jin-ri and who police said was suffering from severe depression, spoke out strongly against cyber bullying.<br />
<br />
Colleagues and experts said her death revealed the constant barrage of malicious online comments faced by young female artists in the public eye.<br />
<br />
"She wasn`t just an issue-maker but I hope she will be remembered as a women`s rights activist who was free-spirited, who could truly speak her mind," said Kwon Ji-an, a fellow South Korean singer and painter.<br />
<br />
Sulli`s most recent public appearance had been in a television programme in which K-pop stars spoke about their experiences with malevolent online postings.<br />
<br />
Kwon, 35, better known by her stage name Solbi, was also subjected to cyber insults in 2009, when she was a member of K-pop group Typhoon, after being wrongly identified in a sex video that went viral online.<br />
<br />
The incident triggered intense depression, social phobia and panic disorder, Kwon said.<br />
<br />
She sought therapy and learned painting, which was meant to be a way of "survival" but eventually became another career.<br />
"I was too young and socially immature to digest all the glamour and changes in the environment, and there`s no self-medication whatsoever," Kwon said.<br />
<br />
"Then how do you respond to all of those vicious online comments? If you explain, they`ll dismiss it as an excuse, and if you fight, they`ll dislike you even more."<br />
<br />
<strong>LAW CHANGE CAMPAIGN</strong><br />
<br />
Kwon called for a change in the anonymous comment culture on the Internet, which critics has long blamed for cyber bullying.<br />
In South Korea, local web portals such as Naver and Daum are a major channel of news consumption, which allow users to leave comments without revealing their real names.<br />
<br />
In the wake of Sulli`s death, fans flocked to the website of the presidential Blue House to file a petition urging the adoption of a real-name online comment system. A spate of related bills have for years been pending in parliament amid heated debate.<br />
<br />
A poll by survey firm Realmeter released on Wednesday showed nearly 70% of South Koreans supported the scheme, while 24% opposed.<br />
<br />
"The freedom of expression is a vital value in democratic society, but insulting and hurting someone else`s dignity is beyond that limit," said Lee Dong-gwi, a psychology professor at Yonsei University in Seoul. "There need to be far harsher penalties for those who violate that law."<br />
<br />
The number of cases of cyber defamation or insult has almost doubled from 2014-18, police data shows.<br />
<br />
An association of South Korean entertainment management companies issued a statement on Wednesday vowing to pursue sterner legal action for "verbal violence" online.<br />
<br />
Kwon has now found peace thanks, in part, to painting. When she released a new single album in 2017, she even sought to express her sufferings by dousing herself with black paint on the stage like a performance artist.<br />
<br />
"I`d gotten treatment out of desperation that I really wanted to live," Kwon said. "I don`t get hurt any more even though I see those malevolent online comments, but now is time to discuss it as a serious social issue."</p>


Sulli, a former South Korean singer-actress, was a rare taboo breaker in a world where K-pop stars` every move is strictly monitored by their management, but her death has exposed the dark side of the industry that propelled a global craze.

Sulli, a former South Korean singer-actress, was a rare taboo breaker in a world where K-pop stars` every move is strictly monitored by their management, but her death has exposed the dark side of the industry that propelled a global craze. She unveiled her romantic relationship at the height of her career as a member of top girl group f(x) and was vocal about not wearing a bra, defying both the K-pop world`s careful brand management and conservative social attitudes towards young women - and provoking a stream of online comment. Also see: After Sulli, now online haters turn to K-pop star's ex boyfriend Before her death on Monday aged 25, Sulli, whose real name was Choi Jin-ri and who police said was suffering from severe depression, spoke out strongly against cyber bullying. Colleagues and experts said her death revealed the constant barrage of malicious online comments faced by young female artists in the public eye. "She wasn`t just an issue-maker but I hope she will be remembered as a women`s rights activist who was free-spirited, who could truly speak her mind," said Kwon Ji-an, a fellow South Korean singer and painter. Sulli`s most recent public appearance had been in a television programme in which K-pop stars spoke about their experiences with malevolent online postings. Kwon, 35, better known by her stage name Solbi, was also subjected to cyber insults in 2009, when she was a member of K-pop group Typhoon, after being wrongly identified in a sex video that went viral online. The incident triggered intense depression, social phobia and panic disorder, Kwon said. She sought therapy and learned painting, which was meant to be a way of "survival" but eventually became another career. "I was too young and socially immature to digest all the glamour and changes in the environment, and there`s no self-medication whatsoever," Kwon said. "Then how do you respond to all of those vicious online comments? If you explain, they`ll dismiss it as an excuse, and if you fight, they`ll dislike you even more." LAW CHANGE CAMPAIGN Kwon called for a change in the anonymous comment culture on the Internet, which critics has long blamed for cyber bullying. In South Korea, local web portals such as Naver and Daum are a major channel of news consumption, which allow users to leave comments without revealing their real names. In the wake of Sulli`s death, fans flocked to the website of the presidential Blue House to file a petition urging the adoption of a real-name online comment system. A spate of related bills have for years been pending in parliament amid heated debate. A poll by survey firm Realmeter released on Wednesday showed nearly 70% of South Koreans supported the scheme, while 24% opposed. "The freedom of expression is a vital value in democratic society, but insulting and hurting someone else`s dignity is beyond that limit," said Lee Dong-gwi, a psychology professor at Yonsei University in Seoul. "There need to be far harsher penalties for those who violate that law." The number of cases of cyber defamation or insult has almost doubled from 2014-18, police data shows. An association of South Korean entertainment management companies issued a statement on Wednesday vowing to pursue sterner legal action for "verbal violence" online. Kwon has now found peace thanks, in part, to painting. When she released a new single album in 2017, she even sought to express her sufferings by dousing herself with black paint on the stage like a performance artist. "I`d gotten treatment out of desperation that I really wanted to live," Kwon said. "I don`t get hurt any more even though I see those malevolent online comments, but now is time to discuss it as a serious social issue."

K-pop singer decries cyber bullying after death of 'activist' star Sulli

<p>Fans and fellow performers on Tuesday mourned the death of a K-pop star who had long been the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/k-pop-star-sulli-dead-at-25-fans-pin-blame-on-cyber-bullying-255963">target of online bullying</a>, some calling for greater mental health support for those working in the country's notoriously competitive show business industry.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The body of Sulli, a former member of top girl group f(x), was <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/k-pop-star-sulli-found-dead-report-255866">discovered Monday by her manager</a> at her home on the outskirts of Seoul.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"There has been no evidence of an outsider having broken in, or any other crimes committed by another person," an official from Seongnam Sujeong Police Agency told AFP.</p>

<p>"Suicide is among the possible causes."</p>

<p>Authorities said the 25-year-old had been suffering from "severe depression".</p>

<p>South Korea has one of the world's highest rates of suicide which, according to recent government figures, is among the top causes of death for those under 40.</p>

<p>"I wish I could hope for Sulli to be the last idol to die from suicide and mental illness," tweeted one fan.</p>

<p>"But knowing how cruel society is, I can't help but be afraid about who's going to be the next one."</p>

<p>Beneath the glitz and glamour, the K-pop industry is known for its cut-throat competitiveness, a lack of privacy, online bullying and relentless public pressure to maintain a wholesome image at all times and at any cost.</p>

<p>- Mental health taboo -</p>

<p>K-pop stars like Sulli are picked up by agencies at a young age -- usually in their early- or mid-teens -- and their lives then taken over by gruelling singing and dancing training.</p>

<p>Taboos about mental illness dissuade many South Koreans from seeking help.</p>

<p>Sulli's death echoes that of fellow K-pop star Jonghyun, who took his life in 2017 after battling with depression.</p>

<p>Both were members of the SM Entertainment stable, one of the country's biggest talent agencies.</p>

<p>K-pop singer Goo Hara, a close friend of the late star, was also sent to hospital last year after a suspected suicide attempt. Goo had been abused by her ex who threatened to post her spycam sex vidoes online.</p>

<p>"I hope Jin-ri is now in a place where she can do whatever she wants," Goo wrote on Instagram -- using Sulli's real name and sharing photos of the two of them together.</p>

<p>Sulli, who started her career as a child actress at age 11, made her debut in 2009 for f(x), which quickly became one of K-pop's top girl groups.</p>

<p>Known for behaviour considered controversial in South Korea -- including her refusal to wear a bra in public -- she had been relentlessly bullied online throughout her career, with many sexually abusive comments.</p>

<p>She recently hosted a TV series where celebrities discussed their experiences of online abuse. She had also candidly shared her experience struggling with panic disorder and social phobia.</p>

<p>Her outspokenness resonated with many young South Korean women who have been leading a new wave of feminists fighting a patriarchal society obsessed with looks.</p>

<p>"Being one of the first female artists in K-pop to talk about mental health and feminism is amazing. I love you so much Sulli - I hope in heaven you are finally free," a fan wrote in a tweet.</p>


Fans and fellow performers on Tuesday mourned the death of a K-pop star who had long been the target of online bullying, some calling for greater mental health support for those working in the country's notoriously competitive show business industry.

Fans and fellow performers on Tuesday mourned the death of a K-pop star who had long been the target of online bullying, some calling for greater mental health support for those working in the country's notoriously competitive show business industry. The body of Sulli, a former member of top girl group f(x), was discovered Monday by her manager at her home on the outskirts of Seoul. "There has been no evidence of an outsider having broken in, or any other crimes committed by another person," an official from Seongnam Sujeong Police Agency told AFP. "Suicide is among the possible causes." Authorities said the 25-year-old had been suffering from "severe depression". South Korea has one of the world's highest rates of suicide which, according to recent government figures, is among the top causes of death for those under 40. "I wish I could hope for Sulli to be the last idol to die from suicide and mental illness," tweeted one fan. "But knowing how cruel society is, I can't help but be afraid about who's going to be the next one." Beneath the glitz and glamour, the K-pop industry is known for its cut-throat competitiveness, a lack of privacy, online bullying and relentless public pressure to maintain a wholesome image at all times and at any cost. - Mental health taboo - K-pop stars like Sulli are picked up by agencies at a young age -- usually in their early- or mid-teens -- and their lives then taken over by gruelling singing and dancing training. Taboos about mental illness dissuade many South Koreans from seeking help. Sulli's death echoes that of fellow K-pop star Jonghyun, who took his life in 2017 after battling with depression. Both were members of the SM Entertainment stable, one of the country's biggest talent agencies. K-pop singer Goo Hara, a close friend of the late star, was also sent to hospital last year after a suspected suicide attempt. Goo had been abused by her ex who threatened to post her spycam sex vidoes online. "I hope Jin-ri is now in a place where she can do whatever she wants," Goo wrote on Instagram -- using Sulli's real name and sharing photos of the two of them together. Sulli, who started her career as a child actress at age 11, made her debut in 2009 for f(x), which quickly became one of K-pop's top girl groups. Known for behaviour considered controversial in South Korea -- including her refusal to wear a bra in public -- she had been relentlessly bullied online throughout her career, with many sexually abusive comments. She recently hosted a TV series where celebrities discussed their experiences of online abuse. She had also candidly shared her experience struggling with panic disorder and social phobia. Her outspokenness resonated with many young South Korean women who have been leading a new wave of feminists fighting a patriarchal society obsessed with looks. "Being one of the first female artists in K-pop to talk about mental health and feminism is amazing. I love you so much Sulli - I hope in heaven you are finally free," a fan wrote in a tweet.

Fans, celebrities mourn death of K-pop star Sulli

<p>South Korean popular singer-actress Sulli was found dead at her residence in Seongnam, south of Seoul on Monday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 25-year-old singer was found dead by her agent at around 3:21 pm, according to the local police. Her agent reported the case to the police.</p>

<p>A popular figure in South Korea’s pop music culture, Sulli, debuted as a member of the girl group f(x). She, however, left the industry in 2014 after suffering from hate comments on social media and rumours.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SouthKorea?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SouthKorea</a> media report that Sulli, former member of K-pop group F(X), has died.</p>
— Vincent Lee (@Rover829) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rover829/status/1183658057261187072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>She then resumed her career the following year to focus on acting but left the girl group.</p>

<p>The police are currently investigating the case and details are awaited on the nature of her death.&nbsp;</p>


South Korean popular singer-actress Sulli was found dead at her residence in Seongnam, south of Seoul on Monday. The 25-year-old singer was found dead by her agent at around 3:21 pm, according to the local police.

South Korean popular singer-actress Sulli was found dead at her residence in Seongnam, south of Seoul on Monday. The 25-year-old singer was found dead by her agent at around 3:21 pm, according to the local police. Her agent reported the case to the police. A popular figure in South Korea’s pop music culture, Sulli, debuted as a member of the girl group f(x). She, however, left the industry in 2014 after suffering from hate comments on social media and rumours. #SouthKorea media report that Sulli, former member of K-pop group F(X), has died. — Vincent Lee (@Rover829) October 14, 2019 × She then resumed her career the following year to focus on acting but left the girl group. The police are currently investigating the case and details are awaited on the nature of her death.

K-pop star Sulli found dead: Report

<p>Disgraced K-pop star Seungri was questioned by police Wednesday for illicit overseas gambling, the latest step in a snowballing sex and drugs scandal that saw him retire in March.</p>

<p>The 28-year-old singer from popular boy band BIGBANG is accused of habitual overseas gambling at luxurious casinos in Las Vegas involving illicit foreign exchange transactions.</p>

<p>Dressed in a sharp dark suit, Seungri stepped out from a black sedan to a mob of reporters waiting for him at a police building in Seoul.</p>

<p>"I apologise again for causing concern," he said. "I will attend the police questioning in a sincere manner."</p>

<p>Seungri, whose real name is Lee Seung-hyun, has also been accused of arranging sex services for potential investors in his business.</p>

<p>The investigation into the scandal surrounding him uncovered a spate of allegations against other musicians and personnel at YG Entertainment -- Seungri's former agency and one of the biggest K-pop management firms.</p>

<p>YG Entertainment was behind Psy's 2012 mega-hit "Gangnam Style" that helped raise K-pop's global profile and has popular idol groups such as BIGBANG and BLACKPINK under its roof.</p>

<p>Yang Hyun-suk, the firm's founder and former chief producer, will be questioned by police on Thursday over similar illicit gambling and cash transfer allegations as Seungri.</p>

<p>Yang was also separately placed under investigation by police last month for allegedly arranging sex services for foreign investors in 2014.</p>


Disgraced K-pop star Seungri was questioned by police Wednesday for illicit overseas gambling, the latest step in a snowballing sex and drugs scandal that saw him retire in March.

Disgraced K-pop star Seungri was questioned by police Wednesday for illicit overseas gambling, the latest step in a snowballing sex and drugs scandal that saw him retire in March. The 28-year-old singer from popular boy band BIGBANG is accused of habitual overseas gambling at luxurious casinos in Las Vegas involving illicit foreign exchange transactions. Dressed in a sharp dark suit, Seungri stepped out from a black sedan to a mob of reporters waiting for him at a police building in Seoul. "I apologise again for causing concern," he said. "I will attend the police questioning in a sincere manner." Seungri, whose real name is Lee Seung-hyun, has also been accused of arranging sex services for potential investors in his business. The investigation into the scandal surrounding him uncovered a spate of allegations against other musicians and personnel at YG Entertainment -- Seungri's former agency and one of the biggest K-pop management firms. YG Entertainment was behind Psy's 2012 mega-hit "Gangnam Style" that helped raise K-pop's global profile and has popular idol groups such as BIGBANG and BLACKPINK under its roof. Yang Hyun-suk, the firm's founder and former chief producer, will be questioned by police on Thursday over similar illicit gambling and cash transfer allegations as Seungri. Yang was also separately placed under investigation by police last month for allegedly arranging sex services for foreign investors in 2014.

K-pop star Seungri accused of illicit gambling

<p>Yang Hyun-suk, the founder of South Korea's YG Entertainment which manages top K-pop performers, stepped down on Friday from his duties as chief producer, in the aftermath of drug and sex scandals involving his artists. In pictures, see how<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/controversy-lies-and-videotape-k-pop-world-rocked-by-scandals-203245#retiring-from-entertainment-industry--lee-seung-hyun-203230"> controversy, lies and videotape have rocked the&nbsp;K-pop world with&nbsp;scandals.</a>&nbsp;</p>

<p>In March, a member of YG's boyband Big Bang quit showbiz over <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/k-pop-sex-video-scandal-police-seek-arrest-warrant-for-singer-jung-joon-204077">sex bribery accusations</a>, prompting police investigations and the resignation of four K-pop stars including him.</p>

<p>Allegations subsequently surfaced of a network of pop stars, businessmen and cops having colluded and enabled tax evasion, bribery and prostitution, exposing the dark side of the glitzy industry.</p>

<p>"I have waited out in patience this situation in which shameless and humiliating words are being thoughtlessly spread as if it is the truth," Yang, a former legendary K-pop star, said in a statement.</p>

<p>"But I don’t think I can hold it in any longer."</p>

<p>Yang said he was stepping down to avoid further damage to the firm's artists over the accusations. These involved prostitution mediation, tax evasion and cover-up of a drug scandal, all of which he has denied.</p>

<p>YG's top shareholder, Yang, founded the K-pop management firm in 1996. His brother Yang Min-suk, the agency's chief executive, also stepped down, according to a regulatory filing.</p>

<p>On Wednesday, the leader of another one of YG's boy bands, iKON, also exited show business over media reports that he was attempting to buy illegal drugs. He publicly apologised for his actions and quit the band.</p>

<p>YG Entertainment is one of the top K-Pop record labels behind groups BlackPink and Big Bang, but its shares have slumped for months, hit by the scandals.</p>

<p>Shares of YG Entertainment closed down 5.6 per cent&nbsp;on Friday, falling for a third consecutive session, while its affiliate, YG Plus, lost nearly 6 per cent.&nbsp;</p>


Yang Hyun-suk, the founder of South Korea's YG Entertainment which manages top K-pop performers, stepped down on Friday from his duties as chief producer, in the aftermath of drug and sex scandals involving his artists.

Yang Hyun-suk, the founder of South Korea's YG Entertainment which manages top K-pop performers, stepped down on Friday from his duties as chief producer, in the aftermath of drug and sex scandals involving his artists. In pictures, see how controversy, lies and videotape have rocked the K-pop world with scandals. In March, a member of YG's boyband Big Bang quit showbiz over sex bribery accusations, prompting police investigations and the resignation of four K-pop stars including him. Allegations subsequently surfaced of a network of pop stars, businessmen and cops having colluded and enabled tax evasion, bribery and prostitution, exposing the dark side of the glitzy industry. "I have waited out in patience this situation in which shameless and humiliating words are being thoughtlessly spread as if it is the truth," Yang, a former legendary K-pop star, said in a statement. "But I don’t think I can hold it in any longer." Yang said he was stepping down to avoid further damage to the firm's artists over the accusations. These involved prostitution mediation, tax evasion and cover-up of a drug scandal, all of which he has denied. YG's top shareholder, Yang, founded the K-pop management firm in 1996. His brother Yang Min-suk, the agency's chief executive, also stepped down, according to a regulatory filing. On Wednesday, the leader of another one of YG's boy bands, iKON, also exited show business over media reports that he was attempting to buy illegal drugs. He publicly apologised for his actions and quit the band. YG Entertainment is one of the top K-Pop record labels behind groups BlackPink and Big Bang, but its shares have slumped for months, hit by the scandals. Shares of YG Entertainment closed down 5.6 per cent on Friday, falling for a third consecutive session, while its affiliate, YG Plus, lost nearly 6 per cent.

Founder of K-pop label YG resigns amid drugs and sex scandals

<p>Korean pop sensation BTS has been invited to join the Recording Academy as part of a drive to diversify the group that chooses the annual Grammy Awards.</p>

<p>The seven-member boy band, which has led a K-pop music wave in the United States and beyond, are among some 1,300 artists, writers and music industry professionals invited to become members of the Los Angeles-based Recording Academy this week.</p>

<p>Should they accept, the band will be eligible to vote in the 2020 Grammy Awards, the highest honours in the music business, the Recording Academy said on Thursday.</p>

<p>The chief executive of their record label, Bang Si-hyuk of Big Hit Entertainment, was also among the invitees, the band said in a statement.</p>

<p>BTS first formed in Seoul in 2103 and broke through into the U.S. pop market in 2017 becoming the first Korean group to win a Billboard music award.</p>

<p>While they have yet to be Grammy-nominated, the band made their first Grammy Award appearance in February to present one of the prizes.</p>

<p>The Recording Academy has undertaken a series of steps in the past few years to make Grammy nominees more diverse and to expand a membership that has traditionally been dominated by older males.</p>

<p>It said that 49 per cent of those invited to join the Recording Academy this week were women, and 51 per cent were under age 40.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the band&nbsp;smashed the&nbsp;most-viewed 24-hour debut record on YouTube with new song. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/k-pop-boy-band-bts-smashes-most-viewed-24-hour-debut-record-on-youtube-with-new-song-211589">Read about it here.&nbsp;</a></p>


Korean pop sensation BTS has been invited to join the Recording Academy as part of a drive to diversify the group that chooses the annual Grammy Awards. The seven-member boy band, which has led a K-pop music wave in the United States and beyond, are among some 1,300 artists, writers and music industry professionals invited to become members of the Los Angeles-based Recording Academy this week.

Korean pop sensation BTS has been invited to join the Recording Academy as part of a drive to diversify the group that chooses the annual Grammy Awards. The seven-member boy band, which has led a K-pop music wave in the United States and beyond, are among some 1,300 artists, writers and music industry professionals invited to become members of the Los Angeles-based Recording Academy this week. Should they accept, the band will be eligible to vote in the 2020 Grammy Awards, the highest honours in the music business, the Recording Academy said on Thursday. The chief executive of their record label, Bang Si-hyuk of Big Hit Entertainment, was also among the invitees, the band said in a statement. BTS first formed in Seoul in 2103 and broke through into the U.S. pop market in 2017 becoming the first Korean group to win a Billboard music award. While they have yet to be Grammy-nominated, the band made their first Grammy Award appearance in February to present one of the prizes. The Recording Academy has undertaken a series of steps in the past few years to make Grammy nominees more diverse and to expand a membership that has traditionally been dominated by older males. It said that 49 per cent of those invited to join the Recording Academy this week were women, and 51 per cent were under age 40. Meanwhile, the band smashed the most-viewed 24-hour debut record on YouTube with new song. Read about it here.

K-pop's BTS gets coveted Recording Academy membership invite

<p>The South Korean musical group BTS, which this weekend performed in front of 84,000 people in all at two concerts here in the nation's largest city, was all it took for thousands of young Brazilians to immerse themselves in K-Pop culture.</p>

<p>Beyond the concerts on successive nights at Allianz Parque Stadium, the presentations of Son RM, Jimin, J-Hope, Suga, Jin, V and Jungkook were further proof of the impact these seven young musicians are having on the new generations of South Americans.</p>

<p>As had already occurred in Sao Paulo with famed artists like Justin Bieber and One Direction, expectations for seeing BTS in a grand concert kept building for several months, to the point that many youths from every region and even from neighbouring countries camped out for as long as 90 days to make sure they got the best seats.</p>

<p>Gabriela, who travelled here from Buenos Aires, told EFE that K-Pop culture entered her country with the South Korean kiddie dramas shown on TV, and now she longs for BTS or some of the other bands in the movement to visit Argentina.</p>

<p>Romina, an Uruguayan medical student, said that K-Pop became part of her life when she first heard a song by BTS on the radio in her dad's car. The group, she said, also "has its visual side. Besides singing, they dance," so they put on more of a show onstage.</p>

<p>But it's not just youngsters that identify with K-Pop - 49-year-old Rocio Arguello, who travelled to Brazil from Paraguay with some 60 other people, got to know the K-Pop movement through his daughter, a fan of another South Korean band.</p>

<p>"K-Pop has a lot of fans in Paraguay. The biggest group is the BTS. It grew and we've already had a festival with lesser groups," Arguello told EFE.</p>

<p>The year 2018 was an absolute record for BTS, which besides its recorded hits became the first South Korean group nominated for Grammy Awards, and even without singing in English topped the Billboard list of sales in the United States.</p>

<p>The global impact of BTS and of the whole K-Pop culture also made it big in Brazil, a country with a large volume of Asian immigration in the last century.</p>

<p>The Brazilian sisters Hiromi and Miuki of Japanese descent consider that in K-Pop, "it's all different, really diversified, a lot of new things that Americanized things don't have nowadays," and noted, besides the music videos and choreography, the "love that is perceived" by its followers.</p>

<p>For diehard fans, habitual purchasers of food, clothes, makeup and K-Pop albums, social networks have contributed to spreading the name and fame of South Korean bands, "chiefly in schools," where hair coloured and cut in the BTS style is seen all the time and every bit of news about the group is greeted with screaming enthusiasm.</p>

<p>The first signs of the movement appeared in 1998 and were seen by the South Korean government as "power." After realizing that this youthful style was injecting $4.7 billion into the nation's economy through trade, tourism and industry, it created the Culture Ministry's K-Pop Department.</p>

<p>In the decade between 2007-2017, South Korea went from 30th to sixth place in the world disc market, ahead of such countries as Brazil.</p>


The South Korean musical group BTS, which this weekend performed in front of 84,000 people in all at two concerts here in the nation's largest city, was all it took for thousands of young Brazilians to immerse themselves in K-Pop culture.

The South Korean musical group BTS, which this weekend performed in front of 84,000 people in all at two concerts here in the nation's largest city, was all it took for thousands of young Brazilians to immerse themselves in K-Pop culture. Beyond the concerts on successive nights at Allianz Parque Stadium, the presentations of Son RM, Jimin, J-Hope, Suga, Jin, V and Jungkook were further proof of the impact these seven young musicians are having on the new generations of South Americans. As had already occurred in Sao Paulo with famed artists like Justin Bieber and One Direction, expectations for seeing BTS in a grand concert kept building for several months, to the point that many youths from every region and even from neighbouring countries camped out for as long as 90 days to make sure they got the best seats. Gabriela, who travelled here from Buenos Aires, told EFE that K-Pop culture entered her country with the South Korean kiddie dramas shown on TV, and now she longs for BTS or some of the other bands in the movement to visit Argentina. Romina, an Uruguayan medical student, said that K-Pop became part of her life when she first heard a song by BTS on the radio in her dad's car. The group, she said, also "has its visual side. Besides singing, they dance," so they put on more of a show onstage. But it's not just youngsters that identify with K-Pop - 49-year-old Rocio Arguello, who travelled to Brazil from Paraguay with some 60 other people, got to know the K-Pop movement through his daughter, a fan of another South Korean band. "K-Pop has a lot of fans in Paraguay. The biggest group is the BTS. It grew and we've already had a festival with lesser groups," Arguello told EFE. The year 2018 was an absolute record for BTS, which besides its recorded hits became the first South Korean group nominated for Grammy Awards, and even without singing in English topped the Billboard list of sales in the United States. The global impact of BTS and of the whole K-Pop culture also made it big in Brazil, a country with a large volume of Asian immigration in the last century. The Brazilian sisters Hiromi and Miuki of Japanese descent consider that in K-Pop, "it's all different, really diversified, a lot of new things that Americanized things don't have nowadays," and noted, besides the music videos and choreography, the "love that is perceived" by its followers. For diehard fans, habitual purchasers of food, clothes, makeup and K-Pop albums, social networks have contributed to spreading the name and fame of South Korean bands, "chiefly in schools," where hair coloured and cut in the BTS style is seen all the time and every bit of news about the group is greeted with screaming enthusiasm. The first signs of the movement appeared in 1998 and were seen by the South Korean government as "power." After realizing that this youthful style was injecting $4.7 billion into the nation's economy through trade, tourism and industry, it created the Culture Ministry's K-Pop Department. In the decade between 2007-2017, South Korea went from 30th to sixth place in the world disc market, ahead of such countries as Brazil.

South Korean pop music awes Brazilian youth

<p>South Korean pop star <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/k-pop-big-bang-member-booked-on-alleged-sex-bribery-company-shares-drop-202510">Seungri </a>arrived at court Tuesday to await a decision on whether he should be arrested over charges including prostitution in a snowballing sex scandal.<br />
<br />
The 28-year-old singer from popular boy band BIGBANG and his business partner are accused of arranging sex services for potential investors and rich clients at a nightclub owned by the pair.<br />
<br />
Dressed in a sharp black suit, Seungri -- real name Lee Seung-hyun -- quickly walked past a mob of reporters at the Seoul Central District Court, tight-lipped as he brushed off questions.<br />
<br />
Police investigations have shown that Seungri and his partner procured a dozen prostitutes for a group of Japanese investors in 2015 at their upmarket Burning Sun nightclub, according to Yonhap news agency.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/controversy-lies-and-videotape-k-pop-world-rocked-by-scandals-203245"><em>In Pictures:&nbsp;Controversy, lies and videotape: K-pop world rocked by scandals&nbsp;</em></a><br />
<br />
The pair also allegedly embezzled around 530 million won (US$450,000) from the business and face charges of violating sanitary codes at Burning Sun, where drug peddling was allegedly commonplace and women are said to have been regularly raped.<br />
<br />
Seungri -- who announced his retirement from showbusiness in March as the scandal ballooned -- has denied the charges.<br />
<br />
Other stars have been embroiled in the allegations, which have cast a shadow over the K-pop industry after investigations into Seungri revealed an online chatroom where a handful of male celebrities shared illegally filmed sex videos.<br />
<br />
Singer-songwriter Jung Joon-young, who ran the chatroom, was arrested in March after admitting to filming himself having sex and sharing the footage without his partners' consent.<br />
<br />
Two other figures have announced their retirements from the entertainment industry amid an ongoing probe.</p>


South Korean pop star Seungri arrived at court Tuesday to await a decision on whether he should be arrested over charges including prostitution in a snowballing sex scandal.

South Korean pop star Seungri arrived at court Tuesday to await a decision on whether he should be arrested over charges including prostitution in a snowballing sex scandal. The 28-year-old singer from popular boy band BIGBANG and his business partner are accused of arranging sex services for potential investors and rich clients at a nightclub owned by the pair. Dressed in a sharp black suit, Seungri -- real name Lee Seung-hyun -- quickly walked past a mob of reporters at the Seoul Central District Court, tight-lipped as he brushed off questions. Police investigations have shown that Seungri and his partner procured a dozen prostitutes for a group of Japanese investors in 2015 at their upmarket Burning Sun nightclub, according to Yonhap news agency. In Pictures: Controversy, lies and videotape: K-pop world rocked by scandals The pair also allegedly embezzled around 530 million won (US$450,000) from the business and face charges of violating sanitary codes at Burning Sun, where drug peddling was allegedly commonplace and women are said to have been regularly raped. Seungri -- who announced his retirement from showbusiness in March as the scandal ballooned -- has denied the charges. Other stars have been embroiled in the allegations, which have cast a shadow over the K-pop industry after investigations into Seungri revealed an online chatroom where a handful of male celebrities shared illegally filmed sex videos. Singer-songwriter Jung Joon-young, who ran the chatroom, was arrested in March after admitting to filming himself having sex and sharing the footage without his partners' consent. Two other figures have announced their retirements from the entertainment industry amid an ongoing probe.

South Korean court to rule on K-pop star Seungri's arrest

<p>Yuuka Hasumi put high school in Japan on hold and flew to South Korea in February to try her chances at becoming a K-pop star, even if that means long hours of vocal and dance training, no privacy, no boyfriend, and even no phone.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Hasumi, 17, joined Acopia School in Seoul, a prep school offering young Japanese a shot at K-pop stardom, teaching them the dance moves, the songs and also the language.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
She is one of an estimated one million other K-pop star wannabes, from South Korea and abroad, hoping to get a shot at super competitive auditions by major talent agencies that will take on just a select few as "trainees".<br />
<br />
"It is tough," Hasumi said in Japanese, drenched in sweat from a dance lesson she attended with 15-year-old friend Yuho Wakamatsu, also from Japan.&nbsp;<br />
"Going through a strict training and taking my skill to a higher level to a perfect stage, I think that`s when it is good to make a debut," she said.<br />
<br />
Hasumi is one of 500 or so young Japanese who join Acopia each year, paying up to $3,000 a month for training and board.</p>

<p>The school also fixes auditions for its candidates with talent management companies that have been the driving force behind the "Korean-wave" pop culture that exploded onto the world stage in the past decade with acts such as global chart topping boy band BTS.<br />
<br />
The influx of Japanese talent that is reshaping the K-pop industry comes at a time of increasingly bitter political acrimony between the two countries that has damaged diplomatic ties.<br />
<br />
That the tension has done little to dent the K-pop craze among Japanese youth, and the willingness by Korean agencies to take on Japanese talent, speak to the strength of the ties between their people, according to one long-time observer.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
"They`re nuts about BTS over there in Japan," said Lee Soo-chul, board member of Seoul-Tokyo Forum, a private foundation with members of diplomats and business executives from both countries.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
K-pop groups, and veteran Korean musicians, are selling out concert halls throughout Japan, said Lee, a former head of Samsung Group`s Japanese operations. "There is no Korea-Japan animosity there."<br />
<br />
<strong>DEEP FREEZE</strong><br />
Tensions rooted in Japan`s 1910-1945 colonisation of Korea have risen after South Korean court rulings against Japanese firms for forced labour, and amid a perception in Korea that Japan`s leadership has not adequately atoned for its colonial past.<br />
<br />
But the popularity of Korean culture and K-pop music is on the rise in Japan, with many fans and artists saying they are not bothered by the diplomatic tension.<br />
<br />
“I might get criticized for being Japanese, but I want to stand on a stage and make (South Koreans) know Japanese can be this cool,” said Rikuya Kawasaki, a 16-year-old Japanese K-pop star hopeful who auditioned unsuccessfully in Tokyo for Acopia School.<br />
<br />
For schools and agencies, Japan`s music market - the second largest after the United States and bigger than China - is a big prize and many have been on a campaign to recruit Japanese talent.<br />
<br />
"It will be good if Japan and South Korea will get along through music," Hasumi told Reuters during a break from her Korean language class.&nbsp;<br />
Some Japanese transplants have already made it big. The three Japanese members of the girl band Twice helped make the group the second most popular act in Japan, after BTS.<br />
<br />
Their success has prompted JYP Entertainment, the South Korean agency backing Twice, to plan the launch of an idol group comprising only Japanese girls.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
JYP declined to comment for this story.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Agency officials are reluctant to discuss their success in Japan and the infusion of Japanese talent, wary of fuelling a politically charged backlash, industry sources said.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>HARD ROAD TO STARDOM</strong><br />
There`s no shortage of Japanese hopefuls willing to train under talent agencies` watchful eye, some having left successful careers back home in search of K-pop fame.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
"I’ve heard stories about no free time or not being able to do what I want. But, I think all of K-pop stars who are now performing have gone down the same road," said Nao Niitsu, a 19-year-old college freshman from Tokyo.<br />
<br />
During a visit to Seoul paid for by her mother, herself a die-hard BTS fan, Niitsu auditioned for 10 agencies and was accepted by five.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Debut is elusive, unlike in Japan where it is easier for idols to get a start and then can hone their skills and work on their appeal with the fans.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Miyu Takeuchi said it wasn`t a difficult decision to leave a 10-year career with a top idol band AKB48 back home in Japan to sign with the K-pop agency Mystic Entertainment in March as a trainee.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Even with her experience, she has seven hours of vocal training a day and two-hour dance lessons twice a week, plus early morning Korean lessons.<br />
She is not allowed to have a boyfriend but she says she has no regrets, despite the fact there is no guarantee she will make it.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
"I don`t know how long my training period will be, but it has to reach a point where my coaches and management company say `Miyu, you are a professional!`"</p>


Yuuka Hasumi put high school in Japan on hold and flew to South Korea in February to try her chances at becoming a K-pop star, even if that means long hours of vocal and dance training, no privacy, no boyfriend, and even no phone.

Yuuka Hasumi put high school in Japan on hold and flew to South Korea in February to try her chances at becoming a K-pop star, even if that means long hours of vocal and dance training, no privacy, no boyfriend, and even no phone. Hasumi, 17, joined Acopia School in Seoul, a prep school offering young Japanese a shot at K-pop stardom, teaching them the dance moves, the songs and also the language. She is one of an estimated one million other K-pop star wannabes, from South Korea and abroad, hoping to get a shot at super competitive auditions by major talent agencies that will take on just a select few as "trainees". "It is tough," Hasumi said in Japanese, drenched in sweat from a dance lesson she attended with 15-year-old friend Yuho Wakamatsu, also from Japan. "Going through a strict training and taking my skill to a higher level to a perfect stage, I think that`s when it is good to make a debut," she said. Hasumi is one of 500 or so young Japanese who join Acopia each year, paying up to $3,000 a month for training and board. The school also fixes auditions for its candidates with talent management companies that have been the driving force behind the "Korean-wave" pop culture that exploded onto the world stage in the past decade with acts such as global chart topping boy band BTS. The influx of Japanese talent that is reshaping the K-pop industry comes at a time of increasingly bitter political acrimony between the two countries that has damaged diplomatic ties. That the tension has done little to dent the K-pop craze among Japanese youth, and the willingness by Korean agencies to take on Japanese talent, speak to the strength of the ties between their people, according to one long-time observer. "They`re nuts about BTS over there in Japan," said Lee Soo-chul, board member of Seoul-Tokyo Forum, a private foundation with members of diplomats and business executives from both countries. K-pop groups, and veteran Korean musicians, are selling out concert halls throughout Japan, said Lee, a former head of Samsung Group`s Japanese operations. "There is no Korea-Japan animosity there." DEEP FREEZE Tensions rooted in Japan`s 1910-1945 colonisation of Korea have risen after South Korean court rulings against Japanese firms for forced labour, and amid a perception in Korea that Japan`s leadership has not adequately atoned for its colonial past. But the popularity of Korean culture and K-pop music is on the rise in Japan, with many fans and artists saying they are not bothered by the diplomatic tension. “I might get criticized for being Japanese, but I want to stand on a stage and make (South Koreans) know Japanese can be this cool,” said Rikuya Kawasaki, a 16-year-old Japanese K-pop star hopeful who auditioned unsuccessfully in Tokyo for Acopia School. For schools and agencies, Japan`s music market - the second largest after the United States and bigger than China - is a big prize and many have been on a campaign to recruit Japanese talent. "It will be good if Japan and South Korea will get along through music," Hasumi told Reuters during a break from her Korean language class. Some Japanese transplants have already made it big. The three Japanese members of the girl band Twice helped make the group the second most popular act in Japan, after BTS. Their success has prompted JYP Entertainment, the South Korean agency backing Twice, to plan the launch of an idol group comprising only Japanese girls. JYP declined to comment for this story. Agency officials are reluctant to discuss their success in Japan and the infusion of Japanese talent, wary of fuelling a politically charged backlash, industry sources said. HARD ROAD TO STARDOM There`s no shortage of Japanese hopefuls willing to train under talent agencies` watchful eye, some having left successful careers back home in search of K-pop fame. "I’ve heard stories about no free time or not being able to do what I want. But, I think all of K-pop stars who are now performing have gone down the same road," said Nao Niitsu, a 19-year-old college freshman from Tokyo. During a visit to Seoul paid for by her mother, herself a die-hard BTS fan, Niitsu auditioned for 10 agencies and was accepted by five. Debut is elusive, unlike in Japan where it is easier for idols to get a start and then can hone their skills and work on their appeal with the fans. Miyu Takeuchi said it wasn`t a difficult decision to leave a 10-year career with a top idol band AKB48 back home in Japan to sign with the K-pop agency Mystic Entertainment in March as a trainee. Even with her experience, she has seven hours of vocal training a day and two-hour dance lessons twice a week, plus early morning Korean lessons. She is not allowed to have a boyfriend but she says she has no regrets, despite the fact there is no guarantee she will make it. "I don`t know how long my training period will be, but it has to reach a point where my coaches and management company say `Miyu, you are a professional!`"

K-Pop stardom lures Japanese youth to Korea despite diplomatic chill

<p>The way to an Indian's heart is clearly through some good old fashioned Bollywood music. Popular K-Pop group IN2IT are touring in India along with guest star AleXa. A part of their IN2ITxION tour, the band's first show was in Mumbai on 15th April.</p>

<p>K-pop has a considerable amount of fan following in India and the Mumbai event was naturally packed as fans of the band came to sing along with their favourite K-pop artists. But the surprise of the night came when the band along with AleXa performed to hit number 'Bole Chudiyan' from the film 'Kabhi Khushi Kahbie Gham'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>AleXa, dressed in a lehenga-choli opened the song while band members of IN2IT joined in later and copied Hrithik Roshan's steps from the original song to the hilt. Needless to say the crowd went berserk in excitement. Here,&nbsp;watch the video.&nbsp;</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwT3wm6DOVM/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Korean #kpop band @official_in2it dance on #bolechudiyan song</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/viralbhayani/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Viral Bhayani</a> (@viralbhayani) on <time datetime="2019-04-16T08:57:10+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Apr 16, 2019 at 1:57am PDT</time></p>
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<p>Speaking to an entertainment portal prior to the show, IN2IT leader 24-year old Inpyo said,” It’s always been our dream to perform in India. We have heard from fans there and we are excited to not just represent ourselves, but also Korea. We are hoping also to meet our fans and to help create new fans so we can come back soon!”</p>


The way to an Indian's heart is clearly through some good old fashioned Bollywood music. Popular K-Pop group IN2IT are touring in India along with guest star AleXa.

The way to an Indian's heart is clearly through some good old fashioned Bollywood music. Popular K-Pop group IN2IT are touring in India along with guest star AleXa. A part of their IN2ITxION tour, the band's first show was in Mumbai on 15th April. K-pop has a considerable amount of fan following in India and the Mumbai event was naturally packed as fans of the band came to sing along with their favourite K-pop artists. But the surprise of the night came when the band along with AleXa performed to hit number 'Bole Chudiyan' from the film 'Kabhi Khushi Kahbie Gham'. AleXa, dressed in a lehenga-choli opened the song while band members of IN2IT joined in later and copied Hrithik Roshan's steps from the original song to the hilt. Needless to say the crowd went berserk in excitement. Here, watch the video. View this post on Instagram Korean #kpop band @official_in2it dance on #bolechudiyan song A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) on Apr 16, 2019 at 1:57am PDT × Speaking to an entertainment portal prior to the show, IN2IT leader 24-year old Inpyo said,” It’s always been our dream to perform in India. We have heard from fans there and we are excited to not just represent ourselves, but also Korea. We are hoping also to meet our fans and to help create new fans so we can come back soon!”

Watch: K-pop band IN2IT performs to hit number 'Bole Chudiyan' at their Mumbai concert

<p>South Korean police Monday sought an arrest warrant for a K-pop star accused of filming and distributing illicit sex videos in a burgeoning scandal that has rocked the country's music industry.</p>

<p>Singer-songwriter Jung Joon-young last week admitted to filming himself having sex and sharing the footage without his partners' consent.</p>

<p>The videos of at least 10 women were shared through mobile chatrooms in 2015 with recipients including fellow K-pop star Seungri of BIGBANG.</p>

<p>After opening an investigation, Seoul police said Monday an arrest warrant has been requested for Jung on charges of sexual offences using cameras, according to Yonhap news agency. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/k-pop-big-bang-member-booked-on-alleged-sex-bribery-company-shares-drop-202510">Also see:&nbsp;K-pop Big Bang member booked on alleged sex bribery; company shares drop</a></p>

<p>Police are also seeking an arrest warrant for another male -- a nightclub employee who was part of the chatroom with Jung -- for sharing sex videos.</p>

<p>The 30-year-old musician <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/k-pop-sex-scandal-after-seungri-and-jung-highlight-boy-band-member-yong-jun-hyung-quits-showbiz-203413">Jung announced his retirement f</a>rom the entertainment industry last week and the scandal has seen two other male singers quitting after admitting they watched the illicit videos.</p>

<p>South Korea has been battling a growing epidemic of so-called "molka", or spycam videos -- mostly of women, secretly filmed by men in schools, toilets and offices.</p>

<p>"Revenge porn" -- videos taken of sexual relations without the partner's consent -- is believed to be equally widespread.</p>

<p>Thousands of women protested in Seoul last year on several occasions against the videos as part of the country's growing #MeToo movement.</p>


South Korean police Monday sought an arrest warrant for a K-pop star accused of filming and distributing illicit sex videos in a burgeoning scandal that has rocked the country's music industry.

South Korean police Monday sought an arrest warrant for a K-pop star accused of filming and distributing illicit sex videos in a burgeoning scandal that has rocked the country's music industry. Singer-songwriter Jung Joon-young last week admitted to filming himself having sex and sharing the footage without his partners' consent. The videos of at least 10 women were shared through mobile chatrooms in 2015 with recipients including fellow K-pop star Seungri of BIGBANG. After opening an investigation, Seoul police said Monday an arrest warrant has been requested for Jung on charges of sexual offences using cameras, according to Yonhap news agency. Also see: K-pop Big Bang member booked on alleged sex bribery; company shares drop Police are also seeking an arrest warrant for another male -- a nightclub employee who was part of the chatroom with Jung -- for sharing sex videos. The 30-year-old musician Jung announced his retirement from the entertainment industry last week and the scandal has seen two other male singers quitting after admitting they watched the illicit videos. South Korea has been battling a growing epidemic of so-called "molka", or spycam videos -- mostly of women, secretly filmed by men in schools, toilets and offices. "Revenge porn" -- videos taken of sexual relations without the partner's consent -- is believed to be equally widespread. Thousands of women protested in Seoul last year on several occasions against the videos as part of the country's growing #MeToo movement.

K-pop sex video scandal: Police seek arrest warrant for singer Jung Joon

<p>Korean pop, after enjoying massive growth in popularity last year, can easily label this as the lowest time in the history of the music genre. After Seungri and Jung quit over sex scandal expose, a third K-pop star quit showbiz today.</p>

<p>Big Bang member <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/k-pop-big-bang-member-booked-on-alleged-sex-bribery-company-shares-drop-202510">Seungri</a> and singer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/second-south-korean-star-quits-as-k-pop-sex-scandal-spreads-202987">Jung Joon-young quit </a>the music industry after their names came up in separate sex scandals.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/controversy-lies-and-videotape-k-pop-world-rocked-by-scandals-203245"><em>In Pictures:&nbsp;Controversy, lies and videotape: K-pop world rocked by scandals&nbsp;</em></a></p>

<p>The most recent to follow suit is Yong Jun-hyung who announced leaving the boy band Highlight after admitting to viewing a secretly filmed video. The 29-year-old took to Instagram to announce the news. Apparently, he received a clip from another pop star who had allegedly recorded a sex video without the woman's consent and then participated in "inappropriate conversations" about it.</p>

<p>In the post, he admitted to doing this and wrote: "All these behaviours were extremely unethical, and I was stupid.”</p>

<p>As he announced this, his former band Highlight’s entertainment label, Around US Entertainment, said in a statement that Yong was "now in a deep state of reflection for his past inappropriate actions, as well as for the disappointment that he undoubtedly caused many due to his immorality".</p>

<p>The police are currently questioning K-pop stars over their roles in the scandal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For the uninitiated, the use of hidden cameras to record sexually explicit material, known as ‘molka’, is a fast-growing problem in the South Korean society.&nbsp;</p>


Korean pop, after enjoying massive growth in popularity last year, can easily label this as the lowest time in the history of the music genre. After Seungri and Jung quit over sex scandal expose, a third K-pop star quit showbiz today.

Korean pop, after enjoying massive growth in popularity last year, can easily label this as the lowest time in the history of the music genre. After Seungri and Jung quit over sex scandal expose, a third K-pop star quit showbiz today. Big Bang member Seungri and singer Jung Joon-young quit the music industry after their names came up in separate sex scandals. In Pictures: Controversy, lies and videotape: K-pop world rocked by scandals The most recent to follow suit is Yong Jun-hyung who announced leaving the boy band Highlight after admitting to viewing a secretly filmed video. The 29-year-old took to Instagram to announce the news. Apparently, he received a clip from another pop star who had allegedly recorded a sex video without the woman's consent and then participated in "inappropriate conversations" about it. In the post, he admitted to doing this and wrote: "All these behaviours were extremely unethical, and I was stupid.” As he announced this, his former band Highlight’s entertainment label, Around US Entertainment, said in a statement that Yong was "now in a deep state of reflection for his past inappropriate actions, as well as for the disappointment that he undoubtedly caused many due to his immorality". The police are currently questioning K-pop stars over their roles in the scandal. For the uninitiated, the use of hidden cameras to record sexually explicit material, known as ‘molka’, is a fast-growing problem in the South Korean society.

K-pop sex scandal: After Seungri and Jung, Highlight boy band member Yong Jun-hyung quits showbiz

Controversy, lies and videotape: K-pop world rocked by scandals

<p>A burgeoning K-pop sex scandal claimed a second scalp as a singer who rose to fame after coming second in one of South Korea's top talent shows admitted secretly filming himself having sex and sharing the footage.</p>

<p>Jung Joon-young, 30, announced his immediate retirement from showbusiness amid allegations he shot and shared sexual imagery without his partners' consent.</p>

<p>"I admit to all my crimes," he said.</p>

<p>"I filmed women without their consent and shared it in a chatroom, and while I was doing so I didn't feel a great sense of guilt," he added in a statement released late Tuesday.</p>

<p>Jung was one of three male artists in a group chat room where some members shared secretly filmed footage of a sexual nature of at least 10 women, according to local broadcaster SBS.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/k-pop-big-bang-member-booked-on-alleged-sex-bribery-company-shares-drop-202510">K-pop singer Seungri,</a> a hugely successful member of boy band BIGBANG who announced his retirement from show business on Monday amid a sex-for-investment criminal investigation, was also a member of the chatroom, the broadcaster said.</p>

<p>K-pop stars generally cultivate clean-cut images -- and are actively promoted by the South Korean government as a key cultural export -- making the scandal even more shocking.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 2016, Jung was charged with filming a video with a sexual partner without her consent and knowledge, &nbsp;but prosecutors dropped the case for lack of evidence after she withdrew her accusation.</p>

<p>Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency will question him later this week, an officer told AFP.</p>

<p>Seungri -- who has multiple business interests -- was interviewed at the weekend over accusations he lobbied potential investors by offering them the services of prostitutes at nightclubs in Seoul's posh Gangnam district.</p>

<p>The 29-year-old is also linked to a police investigation into Burning Sun, a nightclub where he was a public relations director, where staff are alleged to have used hidden cameras to film women and used alcohol and drugs to sexually assault them.</p>

<p>South Korea has been battling a growing epidemic of so-called "molka" -- spycam videos which largely involve men secretly filming women and sharing the illicit content with others.</p>

<p>"This case just shows that male K-pop stars are no exception when it comes to being part of this very disturbing reality that exploits women," women's rights activist Bae Bok-ju told AFP.</p>


A burgeoning K-pop sex scandal claimed a second scalp as a singer who rose to fame after coming second in one of South Korea's top talent shows admitted secretly filming himself having sex and sharing the footage.

A burgeoning K-pop sex scandal claimed a second scalp as a singer who rose to fame after coming second in one of South Korea's top talent shows admitted secretly filming himself having sex and sharing the footage. Jung Joon-young, 30, announced his immediate retirement from showbusiness amid allegations he shot and shared sexual imagery without his partners' consent. "I admit to all my crimes," he said. "I filmed women without their consent and shared it in a chatroom, and while I was doing so I didn't feel a great sense of guilt," he added in a statement released late Tuesday. Jung was one of three male artists in a group chat room where some members shared secretly filmed footage of a sexual nature of at least 10 women, according to local broadcaster SBS. K-pop singer Seungri, a hugely successful member of boy band BIGBANG who announced his retirement from show business on Monday amid a sex-for-investment criminal investigation, was also a member of the chatroom, the broadcaster said. K-pop stars generally cultivate clean-cut images -- and are actively promoted by the South Korean government as a key cultural export -- making the scandal even more shocking. In 2016, Jung was charged with filming a video with a sexual partner without her consent and knowledge, but prosecutors dropped the case for lack of evidence after she withdrew her accusation. Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency will question him later this week, an officer told AFP. Seungri -- who has multiple business interests -- was interviewed at the weekend over accusations he lobbied potential investors by offering them the services of prostitutes at nightclubs in Seoul's posh Gangnam district. The 29-year-old is also linked to a police investigation into Burning Sun, a nightclub where he was a public relations director, where staff are alleged to have used hidden cameras to film women and used alcohol and drugs to sexually assault them. South Korea has been battling a growing epidemic of so-called "molka" -- spycam videos which largely involve men secretly filming women and sharing the illicit content with others. "This case just shows that male K-pop stars are no exception when it comes to being part of this very disturbing reality that exploits women," women's rights activist Bae Bok-ju told AFP.

Second South Korean star quits as K-pop sex scandal spreads

<p>A member of South Korean K-pop band Big Bang, who goes by the stage name Seungri, has been charged with providing prostitutes to foreign investors in his private club, media reported on Sunday, sending shares of his agency as much as 14 per cent lower.</p>

<p>His agency, YG Entertainment Inc, one of South Korea's three major K-pop talent agencies, told Reuters on Monday that it was aware the singer had been charged, however, it did not have any new comment.</p>

<p>Shares of YG Entertainment fell as much as 14.2 per cent to their lowest since November 2018.</p>

<p>The 28-year-old singer, whose real name is Lee Seung-Hyun, was also not available for comment on Monday.</p>

<p>He denied procuring prostitutes last month when a media outlet reported he had been involved in "sex bribery".</p>

<p>Shares of YG Entertainment plunged 21.9 per cent after that report.</p>

<p>Following the February media report, YG Entertainment said in a statement the report was false.</p>

<p>The agency said on Monday its position remained the same.</p>

<p>The scandal comes ahead of the singer's mandatory military services, which all able-bodied men in South Korea must complete.</p>

<p>The agency said that the singer would join the army later this month to fulfil his military duties.&nbsp;</p>


A member of South Korean K-pop band Big Bang, who goes by the stage name Seungri, has been charged with providing prostitutes to foreign investors in his private club, media reported on Sunday, sending shares of his agency as much as 14 per cent lower.

A member of South Korean K-pop band Big Bang, who goes by the stage name Seungri, has been charged with providing prostitutes to foreign investors in his private club, media reported on Sunday, sending shares of his agency as much as 14 per cent lower. His agency, YG Entertainment Inc, one of South Korea's three major K-pop talent agencies, told Reuters on Monday that it was aware the singer had been charged, however, it did not have any new comment. Shares of YG Entertainment fell as much as 14.2 per cent to their lowest since November 2018. The 28-year-old singer, whose real name is Lee Seung-Hyun, was also not available for comment on Monday. He denied procuring prostitutes last month when a media outlet reported he had been involved in "sex bribery". Shares of YG Entertainment plunged 21.9 per cent after that report. Following the February media report, YG Entertainment said in a statement the report was false. The agency said on Monday its position remained the same. The scandal comes ahead of the singer's mandatory military services, which all able-bodied men in South Korea must complete. The agency said that the singer would join the army later this month to fulfil his military duties.

K-pop Big Bang member booked on alleged sex bribery; company shares drop

<p>A Japanese TV station said it had cancelled a Friday television show with South Korean boy band BTS after a member's t-shirt sparked anger on social media and was interpreted as commemorating the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The hugely successful group`s Japan tour - its first after they reached the top of the Billboard 200 album chart in May -comes as ties between the two nations have frayed due to a diplomatic row over South Koreans forced to work for Japanese firms during World War Two.<br />
<br />
Social media showed the t-shirt, which bore the words "Patriotism our history Liberation Korea" by a photo of a rising mushroom cloud.&nbsp;<br />
Japan became the first nation to suffer an atomic bombing on August 9, 1945, at Hiroshima.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We have seen news that a t-shirt worn by one of the members has set off a furore and after asking their record company about this, we made the decision to postpone their appearance on our Nov 9 show," TV Asahi network said on its website.</p>

<p>A BTS Japan fan site also announced their appearance had been postponed, along with an apology to fans who had been looking forward to the broadcast.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There was no mention of cancelling the Japan leg of their tour, which kicks off on Nov 13.&nbsp;</p>

<p>BTS has been together since 2013 and gained a worldwide following, in May becoming the first K-pop performers to top the Billboard 200 with "Love Yourself:Tear." Previous stops on their 2018 tour have included New York and London.&nbsp;</p>


A Japanese TV station said it had cancelled a Friday television show with South Korean boy band BTS after a member's t-shirt sparked anger on social media and was interpreted as commemorating the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

A Japanese TV station said it had cancelled a Friday television show with South Korean boy band BTS after a member's t-shirt sparked anger on social media and was interpreted as commemorating the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. The hugely successful group`s Japan tour - its first after they reached the top of the Billboard 200 album chart in May -comes as ties between the two nations have frayed due to a diplomatic row over South Koreans forced to work for Japanese firms during World War Two. Social media showed the t-shirt, which bore the words "Patriotism our history Liberation Korea" by a photo of a rising mushroom cloud. Japan became the first nation to suffer an atomic bombing on August 9, 1945, at Hiroshima. "We have seen news that a t-shirt worn by one of the members has set off a furore and after asking their record company about this, we made the decision to postpone their appearance on our Nov 9 show," TV Asahi network said on its website. A BTS Japan fan site also announced their appearance had been postponed, along with an apology to fans who had been looking forward to the broadcast. There was no mention of cancelling the Japan leg of their tour, which kicks off on Nov 13. BTS has been together since 2013 and gained a worldwide following, in May becoming the first K-pop performers to top the Billboard 200 with "Love Yourself:Tear." Previous stops on their 2018 tour have included New York and London.

K-pop band BTS' show cancelled on Japan TV over atom bomb t-shirt furore

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