Latest news with #KoreaCultureandTourismInstitute
The Sun
24-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
HYBE agency raided over alleged fraud by BTS founder
SEOUL: Police raided the headquarters of HYBE, the agency behind global K-pop sensation BTS, on Thursday over allegations of fraudulent trading involving founder Bang Si-hyuk. Investigators confirmed the search and seizure operation at the company's Yongsan District office. Bang, the 52-year-old mastermind behind BTS, is under scrutiny for allegedly misleading early investors ahead of HYBE's 2020 initial public offering (IPO). Local reports claim he gained around 200 billion won ($146 million) by encouraging pre-IPO shareholders to sell their stakes to private equity funds while secretly planning the listing. HYBE has denied any wrongdoing. 'The IPO was conducted in full compliance with regulations,' the company stated earlier this month, pledging full cooperation with authorities. The investigation coincides with BTS' anticipated 2026 comeback following the completion of mandatory military service by all seven members. HYBE recently announced a new album and world tour for next year. Before enlistment, BTS contributed over 5.5 trillion won ($4 billion) annually to South Korea's economy, roughly 0.2% of GDP, according to the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute. Despite public debate, the group did not qualify for military exemptions under current laws. - AFP
NDTV
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Jungkook And Jimin On BTS's Comeback In 2026: "We Can't Delay It Any Longer"
BTS members Jungkook and Jimin recently spilled the beans on the group's highly anticipated 2026 comeback. The duo revealed that the septet are aiming to release new music in the upcoming spring season. If released in the spring of 2026, their comeback album would be their first in four years since Proof (2022). During a live session on Weverse, Jungkook said, "We're aiming for next spring. Now, no matter what the outcome is, we have to release something. Right?" Jimin added, "That's right." The younger one further stated, "Our ARMY has waited so long, we can't delay it any longer." Jimin responded, "We can't postpone it." ????: We're aiming for next spring. Now, no matter what the outcome is, we have to release something. Right? ????: That's right. ????: Our ARMY has waited so long, we can't delay it any longer. ????: We can't postpone it. ????: So, what's today's concept? ????: Dumb, dumb. A fool's talk… — bts memeories⁷ (@btsmemeories) July 14, 2025 Jimin said, 'I'm really curious. I mean, we don't even know what we're doing yet. I'm wondering what kind of song we'll come back with.' Jungkook replied, "Actually, the title... I'm really curious. Next spring. We have to work hard until next spring. Honestly, I'm a bit worried." Describing himself as 'a very realistic person', Jungkook added, "I can't write lyrics like RM (Kim Namjoon) hyung (elder brother). I'm very straightforward and very realistic, so the wording doesn't come out." BTS members Jungkook and Jimin completed their 18-month mandatory military service on June 11. During a ceremony, the two singers made an appearance at a public sports facility near their former unit in Yeoncheon, about 60 km north of the South Korean capital Seoul. Read the full story here. Jimin and Jungkook enlisted together as active-duty soldiers in December 2023. Their release came a day after BTS leader RM and another member, V. SUGA completed his duty on June 24. Jin, the oldest BTS member aged 32, completed his service in June last year, while J-Hope was discharged in October 2024. Prior to their mandatory military service, the boy band generated more than 5.5 trillion won ($4 billion) in yearly economic impact, according to the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute.
NDTV
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
BTS Announces New Album, World Tour In 2026 On First Live Stream After Three Years
K-pop supergroup BTS on Tuesday announced their comeback in the spring of 2026 with an album and world tour, prompting a fan frenzy as millions eagerly await their return. South Korea's most lucrative musical act has been on a self-described hiatus since 2022 as its members undertook the mandatory service required of all South Korean men under 30 due to tensions with the nuclear-armed North. With five members discharged from military service in June, many in the industry have been anticipating their comeback. "Starting in July... we're planning to make something massive, so from then (this month), we'll probably gather together and stay focused on making music," band leader RM said on their superfan platform Weverse. "Our group album is officially set to be released next spring," RM said during a live chat. "Starting next spring, we'll of course be going on tour, so please look forward to seeing us all around the globe," he added. The band also revealed their plans to head this month to the United States, where all seven members will gradually regroup to begin music production and prepare for upcoming performances. If released in the spring of 2026, their comeback album would be their first in four years since "Proof", which was the best-selling album of 2022 in South Korea, with nearly 3.5 million copies sold. Prior to their mandatory military service, the boy band 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. BTS holds the record as the most-streamed group on Spotify, and became the first K-pop act to top both the Billboard 200 and the Billboard Artist 100 charts in the United States.
Int'l Business Times
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Int'l Business Times
BTS Agency Confirms Superstars' 2026 Album, Tour
BTS agency HYBE confirmed Wednesday that the K-pop megastars would release a new album and go on tour in 2026, with the group's livestream announcement of their return attracting more than seven million views. The seven-member group had been on a self-described hiatus since 2022 while they undertook their mandatory military service -- required of all men under 30 in South Korea due to tensions with the nuclear-armed North. Now discharged from service, the septet "will travel to the United States in July to begin preparations for the new album and tour all together", HYBE said in a statement. BTS announced their official comeback during a live broadcast on Tuesday, the first livestream with all seven in nearly three years. The livestream attracted more than 7.3 million real-time views, according to the agency. HYBE said BTS "plan to release their new album in 2026 and embark on a large-scale world tour". Group member RM said during the livestream that the new album "is officially set to be released next spring." "Starting next spring, we'll of course be going on tour, so please look forward to seeing us all around the globe," he added. Their comeback album would be their first in four years since "Proof", which was the best-selling album of 2022 in South Korea, with nearly 3.5 million copies sold. 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. BTS is the "bedrock of South Korea's soft power," Kim Yang-hee, an economics professor at Daegu University, told AFP. "South Korea's soft power is being led by the private sector -- best exemplified by the success of BTS and Squid Game -- but it needs the support of public sector for democratic values such as freedom of expression," Kim said. Last year's political upheaval spurred by a martial law declaration "dealt a blow to such values", she added. Former president Yoon Suk Yeol was formally stripped of office in April after being impeached and suspended by lawmakers over a December 3 attempt to subvert civilian rule, in which armed soldiers were deployed to parliament. South Korea "would be served better by bolstering such (democratic) values and holding those accountable for the martial law", Kim said. BTS, known for backing 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 the Billboard Artist 100 charts in the United States. 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.
France 24
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- France 24
BTS agency confirms superstars' 2026 album, tour
The seven-member group had been on a self-described hiatus since 2022 while they undertook their mandatory military service -- required of all men under 30 in South Korea due to tensions with the nuclear-armed North. Now discharged from service, the septet "will travel to the United States in July to begin preparations for the new album and tour all together", HYBE said in a statement. BTS announced their official comeback during a live broadcast on Tuesday, the first livestream with all seven in nearly three years. The livestream attracted more than 7.3 million real-time views -- a record for the group, according to the agency. HYBE said BTS "plan to release their new album in 2026 and embark on a large-scale world tour". Group member RM said during the livestream that the new album "is officially set to be released next spring." "Starting next spring, we'll of course be going on tour, so please look forward to seeing us all around the globe," he added. Their comeback album would be their first in four years since "Proof", which was the best-selling album of 2022 in South Korea, with nearly 3.5 million copies sold. 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. BTS holds the record as the most-streamed group on Spotify, and became the first K-pop act to top both the Billboard 200 and the Billboard Artist 100 charts in the United States. 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. © 2025 AFP
