HYBE: Last News

Pledis Entertainment has shared a notice outlining fan etiquette rules after what it describes as “multiple cases of violation” of SEVENTEEN’s personal information and space.On October 6, Pledis Entertainment uploaded a notice regarding fan etiquette on the group’s official Weverse page. In it, the agency highlighted several examples and instances where SEVENTEEN’s privacy and safety had been violated by fans, followed by a list of fan etiquette rules and consequences of violating them.“Recently when SEVENTEEN leaves and enters Korea and other countries, there have been repeated activities threatening artists’ safety, such as excessive physical contact and taking photography or videos up close,” it stated.Pledis added that some fans had used “improperly acquired information” to end up on the same flights as the boyband, as well as causing discomfort and inconveniencing fellow passengers at airports and on flights by taking photos in unauthorised areas and rowdy behaviour.“There also have been multiple cases of violation of the fan etiquette by selling or buying artists’ personal information or invading artists’ privacy by visiting a personal space such as their houses,” said the agency.Pledis then outlined its official fan etiquette rules dissuading fans from visiting the group’s unofficial engagement avenues and private spaces, stalking, selling and purchasing their personal information and more.

HYBE Labels, home to acts like BTS and SEVENTEEN, has reportedly acquired Supertone, a Korea-based AI voice company.South Korean news outlet Pulse reported on September 27 that the entertainment giant had acquired the startup for approximately ₩45billion (roughly £28.3million), following an investment it made last year when it acquired an 18 per cent stake in Supertone.Valued at about ₩22billion (roughly £13.8 million), Supertone is known for its “adversarially trained end-to-end Korean singing voice synthesis” technology founded in 2020. Dubbed commercially as the ‘singing voice synthesis’ (SVS), Supertone’s AI technology first gained traction when it was featured on a local television programme last year, for mimicking the voice of the late Korean musician Kim Kwang-seok on the Kim Bum-soo classic ‘I Miss You’.According to Pulse, several unidentified sources claimed that HYBE made the decision to acquire Supertone in order to synergise its own artist intellectual property with Supertone’s technology for future endeavours in content production.

BTS‘ exemption from military service by December.The announcement was made during tourism minister Park Bo-kyun’s attendance of the South Korean National Assembly’s parliamentary inspection of the administration yesterday (October 5), per Ten Asia. Park shared a timeline for the decision after People Power Party member Lee Yong-ho requested for him to “actively review the issue of BTS’s military service”, as translated by Soompi.“Member Jin’s enlistment is set to be sorted out by December, but the MCST will finalise our stance as soon as possible before then,” Park said in response.

BTS from compulsory military service.On October 4 at the National Defence Committee’s interpellation session, Lee was asked for his opinion on a bill proposed by Kim Young-bae of the Democratic Party of Korea last month, which aims to allow pop celebrities like BTS, who have received merits from the government, to serve an alternative form of military service.According to KoreaJoongAngDaily, the defence minister stated that it is “desirable that members of BTS carry out their mandatory military service”. However, Lee also added that he would “respect the revised law if it does pass in Congress”.This follows the statement he made shortly after Kim’s bill was proposed, in which Lee said it would be “difficult” to extend this alternative [military service] programme to BTS due to “aspects of fairness on fulfilling mandatory military service”.In his original proposal, Kim suggested for existing provisions for athletes, actors, directors and classical musicians who have made a significant international impact be made available to decorated pop musicians such as BTS.

NewJeans have marked their first overseas performance with a set at KCON Saudi Arabia.The K-pop convention’s inaugural event in the country, which took place at The Boulevard Riyadh City on September 30 and October 1, saw the rookie girl group take the stage alongside acts ATEEZ, Hyolyn, STAYC, ONEUS and TO1 on the second day of the event. The quintet’s set included performances of hit singles ‘Hype Boy’, ‘Attention’ and ‘Cookie’.NewJeans are also set to perform at ​​KCON Japan, which will be hosted at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan from October 14 to 16.NewJeans—comprised of members Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein—made their debut with a four-track self-titled EP comprised of three singles, as well as a B-side titled ‘Hurt’.

Big Hit Music has issued a new statement claiming that it has filed new criminal complaints against “malicious postings” about BTS.The South Korean music label published the statement via the band’s Weverse page earlier today (September 29), where it shared that it is allegedly currently pursuing legal action against unidentified “perpetrators of malicious activities related to BTS”.“We have recently filed additional criminal complaints against postings with personal attacks and defamation using new information provided by fans as well as collected through our monitoring initiatives,” the company wrote in the statement.Big Hit Music added that it had come across “multiple defamation postings” containing false information about BTS on social media platforms both in and outside of South Korea, and have also located the person responsible for spreading and sharing “ill-intentioned rumour[s]”.“[Big Hit Music has] filed a criminal complaint against the poster after gathering all of the repetitively uploaded postings,” the label continued, adding that this was in accordance to its legal response process, where the company supposedly monitors and collects evidence on “malicious postings” for 365 days before including them in their formal complaints to the relevant authorities.“We would also like to share with you that after an extended police investigation, we were able to identify the suspect and the case has been sent to the prosecutor’s office,” Big Hit Music’s statement read. However, details regarding the identities of the offenders and circumstances of the posts in question were not publicly disclosed.

HYBE will be launching BTS’ ‘The City’ project in Busan ahead of the boyband’s forthcoming free concert in the city next month.On September 26, the agency shared that it would be transforming the southern city of Busan into a “concert play park” offering a variety of entertainment events both before and after BTS’ ‘Yet To Come’ concert on October 15.‘The City’ in Busan is set to begin on October 5, kicking off with the launch of ‘2022 BTS Exhibition : Proof’ at Haeundae LCT, which will highlight the past nine years of BTS’ career, per Korea JoongAng Daily.Other experiences coming as part of the project include the launch of limited edition BTS and Busan-themed goods at the Lotte Department Store chain.Between October 14-31, Lotte World Adventure amusement park in Busan will undergo a BTS transformation: the park will be lit up in the group’s signature purple and play their music, and serve purple-themed food and beverages during this time.Outdoor afterparties will also be held at the amusement park on October 15 and 16 following BTS’ concert in Busan.Additionally, five hotels – namely Paradise Hotel Busan, Grand Josun Busan, Park Hyatt Busan, Lotte Hotel Busan and Fairfield by Marriott Busan Songdo Beach – will be launching BTS-themed packages.

BTS have released a music video for ‘Yet to Come (Hyundai Ver.)’, a British rock remix of the septet’s latest title track.The new visual sees BTS performing the song live from a rooftop, interspersed with shots of children playing soccer, as well as crowds and families tuning in to watch World Cup events.“We’re going straight to the stars, they never thought we’d make it this far / Now the vision is clear, the goal of the century is here,” Suga and J-hope declare in revised lyrics for the chorus.The remixed version of ‘Yet to Come’ was produced in partnership with Hyundai as part of ‘Goal of the Century’, the car company’s promotional campaign for the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup. Following the track’s release, Hyundai is set to launch the #TeamCentury12 challenge on TikTok to promote the messaging behind BTS’ track.BTS are also set to hold a free live performance in Busan next month.

SEVENTEEN has released the music video for ‘Limbo’, his fourth official solo single.“Close your eyes / Follow the light that awaits you / Don’t hesitate / Your dream will become reality,” the idol (real name Wen Junhui) croons in the mysterious visual accompanying his latest release.‘Limbo’ comes over a year after the 2021 release of ‘Silent Boarding Gate’. Much like his last solo single, and previous releases ‘Crow’ and ‘Can You Sit By My Side?’, a version of ‘Limbo’ in Jun’s native Mandarin is also available.Apart from his solo releases, the idol has also contributed tracks for television dramas — the latest of which is a Chinese-language version of Paul Kim’s ‘Dream’ for The King: Eternal Monarch.Jun, along with his bandmates in SEVENTEEN, is set to kick off the Southeast Asia leg of their ‘Be The Sun’ world tour with a two-day residency in Jakarta this weekend.

NU’EST member Baekho has dropped new teasers for his upcoming solo debut EP ‘Absolute Zero’.The K-pop idol took to Twitter on September 21 at midnight KST to announce new details for his upcoming solo debut through a briefly animated teaser poster, soundtracked by sound effects reminiscent of static. Through the teaser, Baekho announced that his solo effort will be titled ‘Absolute Zero’, and is slated for release on October 12 at 6pm KST.백호 (BAEKHO) 1st Mini Album [Absolute Zero]Release on 2022.10.12 6PM(KST)#백호 #BAEKHO#Absolute_Zero pic.twitter.com/UxQA5slHJV— 백호(BAEKHO) (@BAEKHO_PLEDIS) September 20, 2022The announcement marks the first details from the album since his label Pledis Entertainment confirmed last month that Baekho was preparing for the album’s October release at the time.

BTS’ Order of Cultural Merit awarded by former president Moon Jae-In in 2018 — should be allowed to serve an alternative form of military service.Korea JoongAng Daily reported on September 21 that Defence Minister Lee has since responded to the proposal, saying that it would be “difficult” to extend this alternative [military service] programme to BTS due to “aspects of fairness on fulfilling mandatory military service” during an interpellation at the National Assembly held on September 19.Kim Young-bae’s original proposal suggests that existing provisions in place for athletes, actors, directors and classical musicians who have made a significant international impact should be expanded to include decorated pop celebrities. “Korean pop celebrities active in the international field make unimaginable economic and social contributions,” said Kim, per The Korea Times.He also added that BTS’ recent appointment as ambassadors of Busan City is one way the boyband are actively serving South Korea’s national interests.

BTS have announced that their upcoming ‘Yet To Come’ concert in Busan will be livestreamed on Weverse and on South Korean television for free.The K-pop juggernauts are slated to perform at the ‘Yet To Come’ concert in the South Korean city of Busan on October 15 at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium for free, organised in support of the city’s bid to host the World City Expo in 2030.On September 20, Big Hit Music took to BTS’ official Weverse page to announce that the upcoming gig will be livestreamed on the fan community platform free of cost as well.The concert will be streamed in real-time from October 15 at 6pm KST, with subtitles available in eight languages, including English, Japanese, Mandarin and Spanish. Fans will have the option of viewing the concert livestream either through Weverse’s mobile or smart TV apps.Other platforms previously announced to be offering complimentary livestreams of ‘Yet To Come’ also include ZEPETO and Naver Now.

BTS’ Order of Cultural Merit awarded by former president Moon Jae-In in 2018 — should be allowed to serve an alternative form of military service.Kim’s proposal suggests that existing provisions in place for athletes, actors, directors and classical musicians who have made a significant international impact should be expanded to include decorated pop celebrities.“Korean pop celebrities active in the international field make unimaginable economic and social contributions,” said Kim, per The Korea Times.He added that BTS’ recent appointment as ambassadors of Busan City is one way the boyband are actively serving South Korea’s national interests.

SEVENTEEN’s Jun will be dropping a brand-new solo single titled ‘Limbo’ later this week.On September 19 at Noon KST, Jun (real name Wen Junhui) announced the upcoming release via SEVENTEEN’s official Twitter account with a mysterious teaser image. The ‘Limbo’ teaser features the singer showcasing his back, while a gloved hand rests atop his shoulder.‘Limbo’ is due out on September 23 at 1:00pm KST.

HYBE’s ADOR label, which houses rookie act NewJeans, has opened up online global auditions to the public.On September 19 at Noon KST, the label shared a graphic poster announcing its ongoing search for talent to join its upcoming acts. Potential applicants can view their official audition site here, which is available in English, Japanese, Mandarin and Korean.Per ADOR’s guidelines, anyone born between the years 2003 and 2011 may apply for the auditions, which are otherwise open to “all genders and nationalities”.Applicants may apply in the categories of singing, rapping and dancing, or in a “free category” that includes acting, modelling and vlogging.

HYBE has released a trailer for ‘The World is My Oyster’, a documentary chronicling the preparations behind LE SSERAFIM’s debut.Named after a track from the girl group’s debut EP, ‘The World is My Oyster’ is set to feature behind-the-scenes footage including rigorous rehearsals and other preparations leading up to the group’s debut showcase.Notably, the footage featured in the trailer has been edited to omit former member Kim Garam, whose exclusive contract with HYBE and Source Music was terminated earlier this year, to a minimum.The documentary also features interviews with the group’s current members and HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk, which recount the public perception of IZ*ONE alumni Sakura and Chaewon’s re-debut with the girl group and the other members’ motivations for signing with HYBE.“‘Why would you debut again at that age? What are you trying to do?’ People might think that.” member Sakura said in an interview for the documentary. “I really wanted to do well, this time with LE SSERAFIM.”‘The World is My Oyster’ is slated for release on YouTube on September 17, 8 PM KST.Apart from their forthcoming documentary, LE SSERAFIM are set to make their first comeback later this year.

Disney+ Day, the streaming service has announced that BTS’ Permission to Dance on Stage: LA is now available to stream exclusively on the platform.Permission to Dance on Stage: LA is a concert film recorded during the septet’s four-day residency at the SoFi Stadium on November 27 and 28, and December 1 and 2, 2021—a show that went on to become the biggest single venue concert engagement by any act in almost a decade, after selling 214,000 tickets and grossing US$33.3million (£25million).The film, shot in cinematic 4K, features performances from their first in-person concerts after two years, after live events were put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.BTS are set to hold a free live performance in Busan next month, in support of the South Korean city’s bid to host the forthcoming 2030 World Expo. The concert, titled ‘Yet to Come in Busan’, will be held at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium on October 15, 6PM KST.

NU’EST member Baekho has unveiled his latest single ‘Savior’ as his contribution to the official soundtrack to K-drama Good Job. The new song dropped on September 1 along with an accompanying video, which features snippets from the mystery-romance series interspersed with footage of Baekho recording the track in the studio.“Everyday you’ll grow brighter / In the dark of night / Get me out of here, yeah / Oh, I want to be in front of you,” he belts in the chorus.Good Job, which began airing on August 24 via South Korean streaming platform ENA, stars Bossam: Steal The Fate co-stars Yuri of Girls’ Generation and Jung Il-woo as the show’s leads. The series follows Eun Seon-woo (Jung), a chaebol who leads a secret double life as a detective by night.

LE SSERAFIM will be dropping new music for their first comeback soon, as confirmed by their label Source Music.On September 1, South Korean media outlet Sports Dongah reported that the five-piece are set to return sometime in the fall, and are currently preparing for the new project.Shortly after the news broke, Source Music issued a response via Newsen. “It is true that LE SSERAFIM is preparing for a comeback.

BTS‘ upcoming Busan concert, ‘Yet To Come’, has been flagged for poor organisation and safety concerns.The concert, first announced last week on August 24, is set to be held at the Busan Ilgwang Special Stage for free on October 15, in order to support the city’s bid to host the World City Expo in 2030.According to The Korea Times, the city of Busan had set up the concert venue over a space formerly occupied by a glass factory by Ilgwang Beach in order to accommodate approximately 100,000 audience members, half of which are expected to be seated while the remaining half will stand to fill up a moshpit.However, both BTS fans and Busan residents have been criticising the concert’s organisation due to safety concerns regarding the location and set-up of the venue in relation to the number of audience members.According to a recent notice posted by Big Hit Music on the boyband’s Weverse page, there will only be one gate available for access to the concert venue from the closest subway station, despite only public transportation being permitted to operate around the venue on the day of the concert.Fans and residents have also pointed out, per The Korea Times, that the location itself is not fit for a large public gathering.

BTS exemptions from mandatory military service.Debates over the necessity of BTS’ fulfilment of local military conscription requirements have long been a point of public contention, which have recently intensified as the boyband’s oldest member, Jin, is due to turn 30 this December. The law calls for all male Korean citizens – no older than age 30 – to enlist in the military for mandatory service.On August 31, The Korea Times reported that South Korea’s defence minister Lee Jong-sup told lawmakers that he has ordered officials to implement a survey to gauge the public’s opinions on BTS’ enlistment.