On February 26, G-Dragon from BIGBANG shared a photo on his personal social media, showcasing a reunion with his friends from the '88 Line'—Kim Soo-hyun, Jung Hae-in, and Kwanghee—who he became close with through the variety show Good Day (굿데이). The image features a four-shot collage taken at G-Dragon's comeback listening party, which included guests Hong Jin-kyung, Jo Se-ho, and Code Kunst, alongside the '88 Line' members. The group displayed their playful side, striking various fun poses, including V signs and the popular 'Agungbang' pose. Meanwhile, G-Dragon's third studio album, Übermensch, has made a significant impact, topping charts immediately upon release. The title track, 'TOO BAD,' quickly reached number one on major Korean music platforms such as Melon, Genie, Bugs, and Vibe.

G-Dragon Reunites with '88 Line' Friends at Listening Party

Lisa of BLACKPINK is set to take the stage at the 97th Academy Awards, which will be held on March 2 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. She will perform alongside rapper Doja Cat and British singer-songwriter Raye. Lisa's performance will feature her song 'Born Again' from her upcoming debut solo album 'Alter Ego', which is scheduled for release on February 28. 'Born Again', featuring Doja Cat and Raye, recently debuted at number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number 13 on the UK Official Top 100. This marks a significant moment as it is the first time a K-pop artist will perform at the Academy Awards. Although Lisa hails from Thailand, she has made her mark as a member of the K-pop girl group BLACKPINK. Additionally, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who starred in the musical film 'Wicked', will also perform at the ceremony.

[공식] 블랙핑크 리사, K팝 최초 美 아카데미 시상식 축하공연

BLACKPINK's Lisa to Perform at the 97th Academy Awards

K-pop icon G-DRAGON has officially announced his long-awaited return with the release of his third studio album, 'Übermensch' (위버맨쉬), showcasing his unparalleled musical talent. Released today, February 25, 2025, at 2 PM, the album has already achieved an all-kill on the charts. The title track, 'TOO BAD (feat. Anderson .Paak)', has captivated fans who have eagerly anticipated his comeback, quickly climbing to the top of major domestic music platforms such as Melon, Genie, and Bugs. Notably, on Melon, 'TOO BAD' secured the number one spot, while 'HOME SWEET HOME' reached third, 'DRAMA' fifth, 'IBELONGIIU' eighth, and 'TAKE ME' tenth, with all eight tracks from the album landing in the top 20 of the Top 100 chart as of 3 PM today.

This marks G-DRAGON's first studio album in 11 years and 5 months, with 'Übermensch' translating to 'Beyond-Man', reflecting his concept of transcending himself. He focused on the essence of music to fully express his artistry, participating in the production of all tracks and the overall concept of the album, reigniting the excitement of fans who have been waiting for his music.

Alongside the music release, the album's cover art was unveiled, featuring a dreamlike image of G-DRAGON walking barefoot in the sky, which has drawn significant attention.

The title track 'TOO BAD' features a groovy drum beat and an infectious hook that instantly grabs listeners' attention. G-DRAGON's rhythmic rapping blends seamlessly with the vocals of Anderson .Paak, a singer-songwriter, rapper, and drummer, creating a lively atmosphere reminiscent of a party.

Track four, 'DRAMA', showcases G-DRAGON's signature ballad style, presenting a dramatic narrative filled with emotional highs and lows. The song features lyrical piano melodies paired with G-DRAGON's captivating and emotive vocals, expressed in various languages, leaving a lasting impression.

'Übermensch' includes pre-released tracks 'PO￦ER' and 'HOME SWEET HOME', along with the title track 'TOO BAD', and other songs like 'DRAMA', 'IBELONGIIU', 'TAKE ME', 'BONAMANA', and 'GYRO-DROP', all reflecting G-DRAGON's unique blend of mainstream appeal and stylish musical identity.

In addition to the music, music videos for 'TOO BAD' and 'DRAMA' have been released, and G-DRAGON is set to perform 'TOO BAD' for the first time on the cable channel Mnet's 'M Countdown' on February 27.

지드래곤, 모두가 기다린 레전드의 귀환..컴백 동시에 '올킬'

G-DRAGON Makes a Triumphant Return with New Album 'Übermensch'

Model and influencer Heo Seong-beom will discuss G-Dragon's recent appointment as a professor at KAIST during the upcoming episode of MBC's Radio Star (라디오스타), airing on February 26. The episode, themed 'Survival People, Blood Players,' will feature guests including Jang Dong-min, Hong Jin-ho, and Pani Bottle.

Heo Seong-beom, often referred to as 'the new face of KAIST,' has transitioned from modeling to academia, currently studying in the AI graduate program after completing his studies in computer science. He gained additional fame as 'Jang Dong-min's calculator' on the survival show Blood Game 3 (피의 게임3).

Heo participated as a panelist at a talk concert celebrating G-Dragon's appointment and shared a memorable dining experience with the artist prior to the ceremony. He revealed the reason behind his 'happiness' from a single comment made by G-Dragon, sparking curiosity among fans.

In relation to G-Dragon's new role, Heo expressed his thoughts and feelings, hinting at a 'bold statement' that has piqued interest.

He also noted a significant change in his popularity following his appearance on Blood Game 3, recounting an experience at an airport in Indonesia where around 200 fans were waiting for him with signs. He mentioned his ongoing work as a model for a well-known domestic laptop brand and a study cafe, highlighting his growing fame both locally and internationally.

Additionally, Heo surprised many by sharing that he had scored in the top 1% on a gifted education program exam in elementary school without any preparation. He later attended a gifted high school and KAIST, humbly acknowledging his status as a 'natural-born overachiever.'

지드래곤, 카이스트 '쇼윈도 교수' 아니었나봐…허성범 소신발언('라스')

Model and Influencer Heo Seong-beom Shares Insights on G-Dragon's New Role at KAIST

Jisoo (지수), a member of the globally renowned group BLACKPINK, continues to make waves in her solo career by achieving a number one spot on the Billboard charts. According to the official Billboard website on February 26, 2025, her mini-album 'AMORTAGE (아모르타주)' has seen its title track 'earthquake (얼스퀘이크)' debut at number one on the 'World Digital Song Sales' chart this week.

In addition, 'earthquake' has secured the 47th position on the 'Billboard Global 200' chart, 22nd on the 'Billboard Global 200 Excl. US', and 20th on the 'LyricFind Global' chart, showcasing her global influence.

Since its official release on February 14, 'AMORTAGE' has garnered significant attention and love across music charts worldwide. The album reached number one on the iTunes Top Albums chart in 45 regions and topped the integrated K-POP chart on Tencent Music in China, as well as the QQ Music Bestselling Digital Album annual chart.

The album achieved half a million sales within its first week, making Jisoo the female solo artist with the highest cumulative album sales alongside her previous works.

Notably, 'earthquake' has amassed 36 million views on YouTube, 20 million streams on Spotify, and 800,000 individual TikTok videos, captivating global music fans. The song also sparked interest with the 'earthquake' challenge featuring BLACKPINK's Rosé and actor Park Jung-min.

Jisoo plans to maintain her active engagement with fans worldwide. The Coupang Play series 'Newtopia' is released every Friday at 8 PM, and her film 'All-Rounder Reader' is set to premiere in July. Additionally, she will hold the 2025 fan meeting tour 'LIGHTS, LOVE, ACTION!' across seven Asian cities, including Manila, Bangkok, Tokyo, Macau, Taipei, Hong Kong, and Hanoi.

지수도 블랙핑크 효과..美 빌보드 '월드 디지털 송 세일즈' 1위

Jisoo of BLACKPINK Achieves Billboard Success with 'AMORTAGE'

지드래곤, 김수현→정해인·광희 ‘88라인’ 뭉쳤다..다시 찍은 네컷사진

On February 25, 2025, HYBE and the Gyeonggi Northern Police Agency (경기북부청) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Gyeonggi Northern Police Headquarters in Uijeongbu, South Korea, to address the rising issue of cyber crimes, particularly deepfake incidents. 

The collaboration aims to establish a cyber crime reporting hotline to protect artists from potential harm and to facilitate the apprehension of offenders. This agreement stems from a mutual understanding of the necessity for cooperation between entertainment companies and law enforcement in investigating cyber crimes targeting artists.

There has been a notable increase in deepfake crimes both domestically and internationally, especially on messaging platforms with servers located abroad. High-profile individuals are particularly vulnerable due to their public visibility, leading to a surge in illegal video incidents and rapid dissemination of such content. This situation underscores the urgent need for collaboration between entertainment agencies and police to safeguard victims and create a swift response system.

The Gyeonggi Northern Police Agency anticipates that this partnership with HYBE will enhance their capabilities in cyber crime investigations. The agency has achieved national recognition for its effectiveness in cyber sexual violence investigations, ranking first in the country for two consecutive years in 2023 and 2024, and being designated as a top cyber team by the National Police Agency in 2024.

In light of this MOU, HYBE plans to further develop its artist protection systems. 

Gyeonggi Northern Police Chief Kim Ho-seung expressed optimism about the collaboration, stating, "Working with HYBE, a leading entertainment company in South Korea, will enhance our investigative efficiency. As cyber crime methods become increasingly sophisticated with technological advancements, we aim to improve our investigative expertise based on this MOU." 

HYBE CEO Lee Jae-sang also expressed his satisfaction with the partnership, stating, "We are pleased to collaborate with the Gyeonggi Northern Police Agency, which has expertise in cyber crime investigations. We will continue to do our utmost to protect the rights of our artists."

HYBE Partners with Gyeonggi Northern Police to Combat Cyber Crimes

On February 25, Spotify, the world's largest music streaming platform, unveiled its '2024 Global Impact List,' highlighting the most streamed Korean music overseas in the second half of 2024. Remarkably, half of the top 10 songs on the list are solo tracks by members of BTS (방탄소년단). Additionally, one-third of the top 30 songs are attributed to their individual works, reaffirming the group's immense influence. This chart reflects the listening habits of Spotify users outside of Korea from July to December 2024.

Jimin's (지민) second solo album, 'MUSE,' saw its title track 'Who' claim the top spot on the '2024 Global Impact List,' marking it as the biggest hit of the latter half of last year. Alongside 'Who,' four other tracks from the album made the rankings, with 'Be Mine' landing at fifth place. Jin's (진) first solo album 'Happy,' released in November, featured the title track 'Running Wild' at sixth place and the pre-released song 'I’ll Be There' at eighth. Additionally, 'Winter Ahead (with PARK HYO SHIN)' by V (뷔) and Park Hyo Shin also secured the ninth position.

Other notable entries include Jimin's 'Slow Dance (feat. Sofia Carson)' at 19th, 'Rebirth (Intro)' at 22nd, and 'Interlude: Showtime' at 28th. Jin's 'Super Tuna,' officially released in October 2022, ranked 23rd, while V's duet 'White Christmas (with V of BTS)' featuring Bing Crosby reached 26th.

According to Spotify's '2024 Wrapped' campaign released in December, BTS was recognized as the Korean artist with the highest global streams last year, amassing an impressive 3.9 billion streams throughout the year. This achievement marks BTS's seventh consecutive year as the most streamed K-pop artist on Spotify since 2018.

BTS Members Dominate Spotify's Global Impact List with Solo Tracks

G-Dragon (지드래곤) of BIGBANG has made his much-anticipated comeback. On February 25, he released his third solo studio album, 'Webermanche' (위버맨쉬), marking his first new music in over eight years since his 2017 mini-album 'Kwon Ji Yong' (권지용). The album has generated significant buzz, but reactions have been mixed. While many fans praised G-Dragon's artistry, some criticized the explicit lyrics found in several tracks.

For instance, the song 'Bona Mana' (보나마나) features provocative lines such as, "Get on top of me and rub it, push me hard, scream girl, love's sonata, hit-and-run chart, only scream girl, dick inside me, may the madman shine, dreaming, all day long, zoom zoom."

In 'Zyro Drop' (자이로드롭), he sings, "You’re riding on my big cloud, in a steel cage, a delicacy, G-nightmare, play with me when the sun sets, quietly comforting myself."

The track 'I Belong to You' (아이빌롱투유) opens with, "One bed, two sleeping places, heart racing, dizzy silhouette, I see through your veil, day and night, what matters is love is never done until the break of dawn."

The title track 'Too Bad' (투 배드) includes lines like, "Just holding hands lightly, a playful touch, is this good?! My MBTI is sexy type, so be my sexy."

Netizens are divided in their opinions, with some defending the artistic expression and arguing that pop lyrics can be even more explicit, while others find the lyrics overly suggestive and cheap. Despite the controversy surrounding the explicit content, G-Dragon continues to thrive. According to Hanteo Chart, 'Webermanche' sold over 600,000 copies within just three hours of its release, a remarkable feat considering no promotional events like fan signings or video calls were utilized.

The album has also dominated music charts, with the title track 'Too Bad' reaching number one on major Korean streaming platforms. As of 7 AM on February 26, it had maintained a top position on Melon for 12 consecutive hours, with all tracks from the album ranking high on real-time charts, showcasing G-Dragon's enduring influence.

Currently, G-Dragon is appearing on MBC's 'Good Day' (굿데이) and is set to kick off his new world tour at Goyang Sports Complex on March 29 and 30.

G-Dragon Makes a Triumphant Return with New Album 'Webermanche'

In the upcoming episode of Channel A's 'Yojeum Namja Life - Shinrang School' (신랑수업), airing on February 26 at 9:30 PM, Shim Hyung-tak experiences a heartfelt moment as he registers the birth of his son, Haru, born in January. 

After taking his wife, Saya, and their newborn to a postpartum care center, Shim heads to the local community center to file the birth registration. Eager to complete the process, he diligently fills out the registration form. However, when he sends a photo of the completed form to his wife for verification, she quickly calls him to point out that he has misspelled their son's name in Hanja. Shim, embarrassed, admits, "Oh no, I haven't written it in a while..." which brings laughter to everyone present.

Later, as he receives the official document with his son's name, Shim's eyes well up with emotion. He reflects, "I feel like my life is reflected in this document. I wonder if I've truly become an adult or a father now. It's hard to put into words how I feel." His sentiment resonates with fellow cast member Kim Jong-min, who humorously expresses his own aspirations, saying, "I need to hurry too! By the end of this year!" which lightens the mood in the studio.

After completing the registration, Shim excitedly calls fellow actors Lee Sang-woo and Lee Min-woo to boast about his son. He exclaims, "Our Haru is so beautiful! He looks like a star already!" Despite the playful teasing from the 'Mentor Group' about his excessive bragging, Shim laughs it off, stating, "It just comes naturally to be a proud dad. I used to brag about my wife a lot after getting married, but now that we have a child, it feels so good to talk about him instead." 

Returning to the postpartum care center, Shim takes on the responsibility of caring for Haru while allowing his wife to rest. His adeptness at feeding and burping the baby earns him applause from the 'Mentor Group.' 

Viewers can witness the touching interactions between Shim Hyung-tak and his son Haru in the 152nd episode of 'Shinrang School' on Channel A, airing tonight at 9:30 PM.

Shim Hyung-tak Shares Emotional Moment While Registering His Son's Birth

Jimin, a member of the globally renowned group BTS (방탄소년단), has once again made waves on the Billboard charts. According to the latest chart released by Billboard on February 25, 2025, his second solo album, MUSE (뮤즈), which was released in July 2024, has climbed an impressive 23 spots to reach 109th place on the Billboard 200. Additionally, MUSE has reclaimed the top position on the World Albums chart. The title track, 'Who' (후), has also performed well, landing at 44th on the Hot 100 and securing 27th and 28th positions on the Global 200 and Global (excluding U.S.) charts, respectively.

Meanwhile, Jungkook's (정국) debut solo single 'Seven (feat. Latto)' continues to hold its ground, ranking 83rd on the Global (excluding U.S.) chart and 134th on the Global 200, despite being released in July 2023. Jin's (진) solo album 'Happy' (해피), released in November 2024, has maintained its popularity, remaining at 19th on the World Albums chart for 14 consecutive weeks.

BTS's collective works are also enjoying long-term success, with their anthology album 'Proof' (프루프) proudly holding the 6th position on the World Albums chart for an impressive 141 weeks.

G-Dragon Reunites with '88 Line' Friends at Listening Party

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HYBE Partners with Gyeonggi Northern Police to Combat Cyber Crimes

BTS Members Dominate Spotify's Global Impact List with Solo Tracks

G-Dragon Makes a Triumphant Return with New Album 'Webermanche'

Shim Hyung-tak Shares Emotional Moment While Registering His Son's Birth

Jimin of BTS Makes a Strong Comeback on Billboard Charts

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BLACKPINK's Lisa to Perform at the 97th Academy Awards

G-DRAGON Makes a Triumphant Return with New Album 'Übermensch'

Model and Influencer Heo Seong-beom Shares Insights on G-Dragon's New Role at KAIST

Jisoo of BLACKPINK Achieves Billboard Success with 'AMORTAGE'

G-Dragon Reunites with '88 Line' Friends at Listening Party

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