Fans feared K-pop's biggest stars were gone forever. Now, they're set to return
And that has fevered speculation Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jungkook, V, Jin and Jimin – each of whom have since launched successful solo careers – will reunite to bring BTS back to the stage next March.
Though details have not yet been confirmed, The Korea Herald this week cited an unnamed but official source within entertainment giant HYBE as confirming the group would be back next year and suggested there might be a new single or project ahead of that event.
Last week, the seven stars reunited for the first time in two years to mark the 12th anniversary of the group, and the end of J-Hope's first solo tour.
Jin and Jungkook took to the stage to perform BTS song Jamais Vu with J-Hope as a trio while the other members watched from the crowd. But for the passionate and devoted fan base, BTS ARMY (BangTan Sonyeondan Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth), just seeing them together in the same venue was a thrill.
Why are BTS so badly missed?
BTS are most recognised for hits like Butter and Dynamite, and were formed in 2010 by entertainment company Big Hit Entertainment (now Big Hit Music, a label under HYBE). Their debut single, 2 Cool 4 Skool, landed in 2013, followed by the album, Dark & Wild, in 2014.
Since then, they have released nine studio albums, been nominated for two Grammy Awards, broken 25 Guiness World Records (including most streamed group act on Spotify), and charted four No.1 albums faster than any group since the Beatles.
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News.com.au
2 days ago
- News.com.au
What Michael Jackson's Neverland looks like now
It was the sprawling estate Michael Jackson called a 'dream', named after a fictional island where Peter Pan lives. Since the music icon's death in 2009, many have wondered what has happened to his former home, Neverland. Over the years, the property has undergone significant changes. 'Big allure': Secret MJ homes reveal sad life What happened to Michael Jackson's Neverland? Jackson purchased the property, originally named Zaca Laderas Ranch, and later known as Sycamore Valley, in 1988. He had discovered the property after Beatle Paul McCartney had stayed there while they were making the music video for smash hit 'Say, Say, Say'. The King of Pop renamed the estate Neverland, a nod to Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up. The musician splashed $US35 million ($A53 million) transforming the estate into a Disney-style amusement park, installing a train station, merry-go-round, arcade and ferris wheel. The property also had a zoo filled with tigers, crocodiles, elephants, giraffes, orangutans and a bear. Neverland included a 1200 sqm residence, 50-seat movie theatre building, guest quarters, barn and a pool house. The six-bedroom, nine-bathroom home spans a massive 1170 sqm and features an expansive master suite with private loft and two master bedrooms, as well as three separate guest homes. Other luxurious features include two fireplaces, a butler's pantry, spa bath, sauna, and breathtaking mountain views. It is also a short 8km drive to the nearest town, and two hours from LA. Jackson resided at Neverland until 2005. After he was acquitted of child sex charges, he moved out of Neverland and relocated to Bahrain. He transferred the property to Sycamore Valley Ranch Company LLC in 2008 to cover debts he had run up. In 2015, the estate was renamed Sycamore Valley Ranch and put on the market for $US100 million ($A128 million). Who purchased the Neverland estate? After five years and numerous price cuts, the sprawling property finally found a buyer. Billionaire and friend of the late pop star Ron Burkle purchased the 2700-acre (1092Ha) estate for $US22 million ($A28 million). A spokesperson who had also served as Jackson's financial adviser told The New York Times that Burkle had viewed the home as an investment. There was initial speculation that the Neverland estate would be memorialised in Jackson's memory, much like Elvis Presley's Graceland home, but was placed on the market in 2016. The house was originally listed for $US100 million ($A128 million). and dropped to $US67million ($A102 million) the following year, The Sun reports. Renovations finally began after over a decade in 2021, and supervising planner, Errin Briggs, told SF Gate in February 2022: 'Our staff has been out to the site multiple times for about the last four to six months. 'We don't yet have any permit requests for new structures, but they've pulled permits for roofing, existing structures, electrical — pretty minor stuff, but we can confirm work is being done.' Burkle made his fortune by flipping large estates including the house used in the 1982 film, Blade Runner, in 2011. He purchased the property for $US4.5million ($A6.9 million) and in 2019 it sold for a whopping $US18million ($A27 million). Transformation of crumbling Neverland Ranch Back in 2023, photos emerged showing the transformation of Neverland Ranch as the on-property rides were resurrected. At the time, it appeared Burkle was resurrecting pieces of the property – including some of the aforementioned attractions. While the property reportedly fell into chaos after Jackson sold it, it appeared that work had been done to restore the grounds. The photos showed fairground stands that appear to have been reinstalled, along with a playground of sorts and teepees. A new attraction called 'Hook's Revenge', featuring a broken pirate ship with Captain Hook and his rival crocodile. The petting zoo that was formerly onsite also appeared to have been reinstated and the train station and train tracks have remained intact. Giant swimming pools that were previously drained appear to be refilled as well. Neverland featured in upcoming biopic Last year, the Neverland theme park was brought back to life for an upcoming Michael Jackson biopic. Fairground rides appear to have been repainted and the lush landscaping restored at the private amusement complex. Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson plays the late King of Pop in Antoine Fuqua's 'Michael,' slated for release in April 2026.
Herald Sun
4 days ago
- Herald Sun
Behind the scenes in Kia's Tasman Town
Don't miss out on the headlines from Motoring News. Followed categories will be added to My News. How many sports stars does it take to convince Australians that Kia can make a good, off-road, dual cab ute? The South Korean car manufacturer – better known for their sensible SUVs – clearly thinks the answer is a lot. Last week, for the launch of its first-ever ute, the Tasman, Kia shipped Alex Volkanovski, Lance Franklin, David Boonie, Damien Oliver, Alfie Langer, Steve Waugh, Dane Swan, Nathan Hindmarsh and Darren Lockyer to a small country town in the Central West of New South Wales. MORE: Kia's Tasman tested in pre-production form Retired Broncos star Darren Lockyer with a horse in Tasman Town. Picture: Supplied A truly impressive bevy of athletes. Some of the biggest names in Australian sport. And they were all brought together to participate in what might best be described as a night of improvisational theatre. No, really. For the launch, Kia took over Sofala, a historic gold rush town with a population of around 100 people, and transformed it into 'Tasman Town', the imaginary destination featured in their ads. I was one of a few dozen motoring writers and media types who were invited along for the event. MORE: Drivers fed up by dangerous driving Kia transformed Sofala, NSW, into Tasman Town. Picture: Supplied On arrival, we were greeted as though we were newcomers to the area, interested in buying a local property. To help us get acquainted with the town, an actor, playing the local mayor, gave us a tour of the main street. Along the way, we were introduced to a few of the 'residents'. These were, of course, the athletes who were in character as … well … themselves. But versions of themselves who drove Kias, worked trades, and lived in a fake town. Frankly, I call this non-consensual improvisation. MORE: Driving Subaru's Forester hybrid Kia transformed a pub into the Tasman Hotel. Picture: Supplied Usually, I would gnaw off my own hand to avoid it. Kia, perhaps being one step ahead of dissidents like myself, were mercifully quick to distribute beer and wine to prevent any such drastic actions. Certainly, some athletes were more comfortable in their acting roles than others. UFC Featherweight Champion Alex Volkanovski – pretending to a butcher – was a standout performer. I suppose if your actual job is beating men into a pulp with your knuckles, all other gigs are comparatively easy. MORE: Australia's favourite cars Kia transformed Sofala, NSW, into Tasman Town. Picture: Supplied A few actual Sofala residents were also involved in the show. They had the important job of walking ponies and goats up and down the street. You know, just like any ordinary country town. The rest of the locals had gathered at the pub, schooners in hand, to watch the palaver unfold. Their faces were inscrutable as the media pack shuffled past. Once the mandatory theatre component of the evening had concluded, guests and the sporting icons were free to mingle. MORE: Jet pilot tech changing Aussie cars Former cricketer Steve Waugh in Kia's Tasman Town. Picture: Supplied This, I realise, would be a dream event for many Australians. Unfortunately, as someone with terrible facial memory and a dearth of knowledge on any non car-related sport, I was in a personally-tailored horror story. Every conversation was socially fraught. Did this person look familiar because I've met them at a car launch? Or are they an Australian sporting legend whom I should absolutely know? There were a million ways for a person like me to socially embarrass themselves. Inevitably, it wasn't long before I found one. MORE: Huge ask for Australia's most valuable car Retired NRL star Nathan Hindmarsh in Kia's Tasman Town. Picture: Supplied During the evening's formal dinner, the person assigned to the place next to me sat down, shook my hand and asked, 'Who are you?'. This was an aggressive start to a conversation, I thought. I fired back, 'I'm Stephanie, who are you?' To which he replied, very politely, that he was Nathan Hindmarsh, one of the footy players. Also, he clarified, he'd asked me how are you, not who are you. Hindmarsh then proceeded to further shame me by being thoroughly funny and charming for the rest of the evening. The Tasman launch was an extravaganza, but I was obviously not the target audience. Stephanie Coombes with the Kia Tasman. Picture: Supplied The fact that no female sporting stars were present – even though they featured in some of the ads – is further evidence of this fact. If Kia has a vision board for the Tasman, dead centre is a caricature of an Aussie tradesman. Their method for appealing to these men – getting high-profile sporting heroes to pretend to be tradies – is borderline patronising. But Kia is not in a position to take any serious creative risks. They need the Tasman to work in Australia. This is no small task. Kia is entering a very established, highly-competitive dual cab ute market late in the day, and with a car that is being thoroughly panned online for its boxy, brutalist design. Kia has decided to align itself with winners. Only time will tell whether that sporting glory will rub off on the Tasman, a ute that's joining the race well behind the starting line. Originally published as Behind the scenes in Kia's Tasman Town
News.com.au
24-07-2025
- News.com.au
BTS agency HYBE raided over alleged fraud trading
HYBE, the agency behind K-pop superstars BTS, was raided by police on Thursday in connection with alleged fraudulent trading involving its founder Bang Si-hyuk, investigators said. "We are conducting a search and seizure at HYBE's headquarters in Yongsan District," Seoul police said in a brief statement. Bang, the mastermind behind BTS, is under investigation over allegations that he misled early investors to reap illicit profits from the company's 2020 initial public offering. He is accused of gaining around 200 billion won (US$146 million) through the process, according to local reports. HYBE has denied Bang committed any wrongdoing. "We will dutifully clarify that the listing at the time was carried out in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations," the company said in early July, pledging "active cooperation" with authorities to get to the bottom of the case. Bang allegedly misled HYBE's early investors, who held pre-IPO shares, by telling them in 2019 he had no plans to take the company public. He then allegedly encouraged them to sell their shares to private equity funds when in fact IPO plan was in the making. HYBE went public in 2020, after the shareholders sold their stakes. The 52-year-old is accused of secretly striking a deal with the private equity funds to receive a portion of the profits they made from selling shares after the IPO. - 2026 comeback - The investigation comes as all seven BTS members complete their mandatory military service and prepare for a comeback next year. HYBE announced this month that a new album and world tour were scheduled for 2026. BTS, known for championing progressive causes, holds the record as the most-streamed group on Spotify and became the first K-pop act to top both the Billboard 200 and Billboard Artist 100 charts in the United States. Before their military service, BTS generated more than 5.5 trillion won ($4 billion) in yearly economic impact, according to the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute. That accounts for roughly 0.2 percent of South Korea's total GDP, according to official data. There had been debate over whether BTS should be granted exemptions from military service -- sometimes granted to Olympic medallists and classical artists who win top international awards -- but pop stars do not qualify under South Korean laws. With the lack of public consensus on the matter, the members enlisted individually, beginning in late 2022.
