SM Entertainment Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

K-pop girl group aespa have unveiled snippets of the tracks from their upcoming mini-album ‘Drama’.Today (November 3), aespa released a “Track Poster” clip for their upcoming mini-album ‘Drama’, previewing all six songs on the project. The clip opens with a snippet of title track ‘Drama’, followed by brand-new B-side ‘Trick or Trick’.Also appearing on the record are ‘Don’t Blink’, ‘Hot Air Balloon’ and ‘YOLO’, which aespa performed for the first time at their ‘SYNK: Hyper Line’ concerts in Seoul back in February, and closing track ‘You’.In addition, their recent English-language single ‘Better Things’ will also be on the digital version of the record, even though it is not featured in the clip.aespa will make their return with ‘Drama’ on November 10 at 2pm KST/Midnight EST.

NCT have announced the release date for their upcoming concert film, NCT NATION: To The World.Today (November 2), Trafalgar Releasing announced in a press release that NCT’s upcoming concert film NCT NATION: To The World will hit cinemas worldwide this December. Notably, Trafalgar Releasing previously distributed NCT Dream’s 2022 concert film, NCT Dream The Movie: In A Dream.The movie will follow the K-pop boyband during their concert at the Incheon Munhak Stadium in South Korea, which took place on August 26 earlier this year.

SHINee member Taemin has unveiled the music video for his new single ‘Guilty’.Today (October 30), the K-pop singer released his fourth solo mini-album ‘Guilty’ and a sultry music video for its lead single of the same name. The new visual sees Taemin looking back on his past memories as he and a group of dancers perform in a packed dorm room.Elsewhere in the clip, they dance to the track’s dramatic choreography in a junkyard as it bursts into flames.

aespa has stirred controversy with her recent comment about other K-pop groups.aespa recently made an appearance in a new Rolling Stone YouTube video, where the girl group and American singer Grimes interviewed one another about music, using AI in the industry and more.At one point in the video, Grimes asked aespa: “How is it like working with all four of you and negotiating and all that? In many ways, it’s great but every time I do have a creative partner, it is so fulfilling, but sometimes you fight.”Karina responded by saying that despite the four members of aespa having “different personalities”, she believes the quartet “come together well”. She added: “And we just get along well as people.

SHINee’s Taemin has been teased as the next guest on Suchwita, a YouTube talk show hosted by BTS‘ Suga.A preview for the upcoming 20th episode of Suga’s YouTube series was uploaded to the BANGTANTV YouTube channel yesterday (October 24), teasing the upcoming episode’s guest in a brief one-minute clip.The preview starts with Suga introducing the guest as someone who is “much more of a senior artist than I am”. Taemin – whose face is obscured by close-up shots or censors, but still recognisable – tells Suga that it’s nice to sit down for a chat with Suga, who is similarly born in the year 1993.“There weren’t many singers who were born in 1993,” Suga notes in the teaser, before Taemin adds that he has always “had this yearning for a friend born in 1993”.Taemin also tells Suga that he has heard a lot about him through BTS bandmate Jimin, who has been known to be a close personal friend of Taemin’s.

aespa member Giselle has opened up about her thoughts on K-pop, describing it as “music you can see” in a conversation with Grimes.Giselle, along with her fellow aespa members, recently participated in conversation about music and AI with Canadian musician Grimes for Rolling Stone magazine.As part of their conversation, Grimes touched on “the music video process” in Korea versus Hollywood. “I feel like it’s a medium that America is losing, but it continues to innovate in Korea,” she opined.“What we say in Korean a lot is, ‘music you can see’,” Giselle said in response to Grimes.

D.O., a member of K-pop boyband EXO, has left his long-time label SM Entertainment after 11 years.SM Entertainment confirmed that EXO member D.O. would be leaving the K-pop agency after the expiration of his currently contract in early-November.

SM Entertainment has shared a health update for K-pop idol Taeil of the boyband NCT.In a new statement to SPOTV News today (October 18), SM Entertainment revealed that NCT’s Taeil underwent a successful surgery following his motorcycle accident in mid-August this year. The label added that the singer is currently “recovering his health by focusing on treatment with the will to greet fans as soon as possible”, as translated by Soompi.However, SM Entertainment also stated that the K-pop idol still requires “sufficient treatment and stability” in order to recover.

Red Velvet have announced their upcoming third studio album, titled ‘What A Chill Kill’.Red Velvet revealed the title and release date for their third studio album today (October 18), through a post on their social media accounts. Titled ‘What A Chill Kill’, the girl group’s new record will be released on November 13 at 6PM KST.

SM Entertainment has addressed a report about EXO‘s Sehun and Chanyeol signing with a different agency for their solo activities.Earlier today (October 17), South Korean news outlet SBS reported that EXO member Sehun and Chanyeol would be signing with a new agency for their solo careers. Notably, the two K-pop idols make up the boyband’s sub-unit, EXO-SC.According to SBS, the unnamed agency is reportedly founded by Jeong Hoon-tak, the former CEO of iHQ (also known as SidusHQ).

Girls’ Generation member Taeyeon will drop a new album in November, SM Entertainment has confirmed.The release was announced as part of the agency’s Q4 schedule for 2023, which also features a number of previously confirmed releases.“Taeyeon is currently preparing for a new album set for release in November, SM Entertainment said in a press release (per Korea JoongAng Daily). “It will be her first album release after a while, following her third full-length album ‘INVU’ which dropped February last year.”The Q4 schedule also revealed that rookie boyband RIIZE will also return in late October with a new song.

aespa have announced their next comeback with their latest EP ‘Drama’, which will be released next month.The record will be the SM Entertainment girl group’s fourth EP and will follow May’s ‘MY WORLD’ EP.‘Drama’ will be released on November 10 and will include six songs encompassing a variety of genres. “aespa will showcase more mature vocal charms and musical colours,” SM Entertainment said in a press release (per Yonhap News Agency).Further details about the record, including its tracklist and title track, are yet to be revealed.The ‘Drama’ EP will succeed aespa’s recent single ‘Better Things’, which marked their second release of 2023 and found the four-piece declaring: “I’ve got better things to do with my time than you.”Prior to ‘Better Things’, the group shared their third EP ‘MY WORLD’.

NCT 127 have returned with their fifth album ‘Fact Check’ and a futuristic video for the record’s title track.The new release follows the nine-member boyband’s 2022 album ‘질주 (2 Baddies)’ and its 2023 repackage, ‘Ay-Yo’.On the single ‘Fact Check’, NCT 127 deliver an energetic, Afrobeats-based track that finds them in supremely confident mode, even in the face of being fact-checked against timeless art pieces. “Hang me in the Louvre / Next to the Lisa, touché,” Johnny raps at one point, before the group declare in the chorus: “Check the facts, go check that / Check the stats, go check that.”In the accompanying video, the boyband hop around landmarks across Seoul, from Gyeongbok Palace to Incheon Bridge, as well as more futuristic landscapes.The rest of the album features lyrical contributions from Taeil, Taeyong and Mark on ‘Love Is A Beauty’.

aespa have released a first look at their upcoming collaboration with American footwear brand Crocs.In a new Instagram post, aespa are seen wearing their new Crocs collaboration. The girl group’s Stomp Clogs feature a blue and purple body, lined at the top with faux fur of the same colours.A post shared by aespa 에스파 (@aespa_official)Crocs has also since teased the upcoming aespa Stomp Clogs on its official Twitter account.

Girls’ Generation member Hyoyeon has announced the dates and venues for her upcoming 2023 North American tour.Hyoyeon, who releases solo music under the moniker DJ Hyo, has revealed that she will tour both the United States and Canada starting from next month.The Girls’ Generation singer’s upcoming 2023 tour will kick off on October 14 in Chicago, before heading up to the Canadian cities of Montreal and Toronto.Thereafter, Hyoyeon will play four shows in the US – San Francisco, Boston, New York and Maidson – across the rest of October, before heading back up north to Vancouver in Canada in early-November.According to the K-pop idol’s Instagram post, more dates for her upcoming 2023 North America tour will be revealed soon. Tickets for the announced dates are on sale now via the official websites of the respective event spaces.OCTOBER14: Chicago, Illinois, Sound-Bar Chicago16: Montreal, Quebec, Club Soda18: Toronto, Ontario, The Phoenix Concert Theatre20: San Francisco, California, Temple Nightclub21: Boston, Massachusetts, Royale Boston27: New York, New York, Webster Hall28: Maidson, Wisconsin, Maidson LiquidNOVEMBER02: Vancouver, British Columbia, Harbour Event & Convention CentreA post shared by 소녀시대 (@girlsgeneration)In other touring news, K-pop boyband ONEUS have announced the Europe dates for their 2023 ‘La Dolce Vita’ world tour.

NCT member Taeyong has shared that he has new solo music in the works.In a new interview with tmrw magazine, NCT’s Taeyong discussed his first solo mini-album ‘Shalala’ and his upcoming plans. Taeyong shared that his next solo record is already in the works, while teasing a possible solo tour in the future as well.“We just started to plan my second solo album,” said the NCT rapper.

RIIZE have made their debut with their new single ‘Get A Guitar’.RIIZE are a seven-member group from SM Entertainment, featuring former NCT members Shotaro and Sungchan. The duo are joined by Eunseok, Wonbin, Seunghan, Sohee and Anton.“I love it when our eyes meet / Ooh, baby, ooh / I love it when I dance with you / Drawing sunshine in the rhythm / Full of dreams in my heart,” the boyband sing on the upbeat chorus of ‘Get A Guitar’.‘Get a Guitar’ is also the title of RIIZE’s debut single album, which include the previously released song ‘Memories’.At a press conference in Seoul for the release of ‘Get a Guitar’, SM Entertainment also announced that RIIZE will also be represented by RCA Records in the US, per Forbes.“RIIZE are ushering in an exciting new era of K-pop,” said Joseph Chang, CEO of SM and Kakao Entertainment America.

aespa’s Ningning has released her cover of Britney Spears’ 2003 hit single ‘Toxic’.In a recent episode of South Korean music TV programme Begin Again, in which a cast of musicians travel around the country to hold busking events, the K-pop idol performed an acoustic cover of the iconic Britney Spears hit.Before singing her cover, Ningning introduced the song, saying: “It’s a very famous song, [I wanted to do something] that showed who exactly Ningning from aespa is, and that’s why I chose it.”“With the taste of your lips, I’m on a ride / You’re toxic, I’m slipping under / Taste of your poison, paradise / I’m addicted to you, don’t you know that you’re toxic,” she sings in the chorus while accompanied by a guitarist.Earlier this month, aespa released their second English-language single ‘Better Things’. The song arrived shortly after the release of their May mini-album ‘MY WORLD’ and its lead track ‘Spicy’.Other songs on that record include ‘Salty & Sweet’ and ‘Thirsty’, which the girl group previously performed at a concert, and pre-release single ‘Welcome to MY World’ among others.aespa are currently on the North American leg of their ‘SYNK: Hyper Line’ world tour, which they kicked off with a concert in Los Angeles on August 13.

NCT sub-unit NCT U have released a music video for their new song ‘Baggy Jeans’On August 28 at 6pm KST, the K-pop boyband released their album ‘Golden Age’, as well as the music video for ‘Baggy Jeans’ by the group’s revolving sub-unit NCT U. The members featured in the track and new choreography-focused music video are Ten, Doyoung, Taeyong, Mark and Jaehyun.“Drip drip, you know what I mean / Yeah boy, I walk a little differently / Ride the beat Bumblebee / Lightly feelin’ so free / In my baggy baggy baggy baggy baggy baggy jeans,” they rap.

K-pop agency SM Entertainment has announced that it will be taking legal action against a fan who allegedly broke into NCT member Jaehyun’s hotel room last year.On August 21, a Twitter user uploaded several clips from inside the hotel room, claiming that had it was being used by NCT member Jaehyun at the time, per Soompi.The clips were taken without permission in a hotel where the NCT 127 members had been staying during their US tour last October, and captured some of the singer’s stage outfits and personal belongings.SM Entertainment has since released a statement announcing its intent to pursue legal action against the fan. “The video is an illegal act that seriously infringes on the privacy of the artist, and the company is collecting data on the first person who uploaded it and all those who redistributed it,” said the agency, per Newsen.It continued: “We will request the cooperation of domestic and foreign sites and legal firms to conduct a thorough investigation through law enforcement agencies.”Earlier this month, Jaehyun released the song ‘Horizon’ through NCT’s ‘NCT LAB’ project, under which the boyband release standalone solo or unit tracks.

Seulgi of girl group Red Velvet has renewed her contract with K-pop agency SM Entertainment.On August 21, South Korean news outlet Star News reported that Seulgi had decided to review her contract with SM Entertainment. The news was confirmed the next day (August 22) by the K-pop agency.In a statement to Xportnews, as translated by Koreaboo, SM Entertainment said: “We have renewed our contract with Seulgi.” This is the second time the K-pop idol has renewed her contract with the entertainment company, after first re-signing in 2021 alongside her fellow Red Velvet members.Seulgi’s decision to renew her contract with SM Entertainment comes after a tumultuous year for the K-pop agency, which saw a number of long-time artists leave the label.

Key, a member of K-pop boyband SHINee, has announced his new mini-album, ‘Good & Great’.Today (August 21), Key announced through the official SHINee Twitter account that he’ll be releasing his second solo mini-album, titled ‘Good & Great’, this September.‘Good & Great’ will be Key’s second solo release of 2023, following ‘Killer’ in February. The latter was a repackaged version of his sophomore studio album ‘Gasoline’, which dropped in August 2022, featuring three new songs.Key’s ‘Good & Great’ will be released on September 11 at 6pm KST.

Girls’ Generation member and K-pop soloist Hyoyeon has begun teasing her new single ‘Picture’.On August 17 at midnight KST, the singer unveiled new teaser photos for her upcoming return. Titled ‘Picture’, the digital single is due out August 22 at 6pm KST.

Taeil of K-pop boyband NCT has fractured his thigh as the result of a recent motorcycle accident.Taeil’s label, SM Entertainment, announced in a press statement that the singer was involved in a motorcycle accident earlier today (August 15) and has suffered a fracture to his right thigh. The agency also said that the singer would be going on a temporary hiatus as a result.“Taeil was on his way home on his motorcycle after finishing his schedule when he was involved in an accident,” SM Entertainment said in its statement, per Soompi.

SM Entertainment has filed a police report against an anonymous death threat sent to aespa‘s Winter.SM Entertainment confirmed the report, per Soompi on Tuesday (August 8) that charges have been filed against the author of the now-deleted threat. According to the agency, the threat against Winter was published on Monday (August 7), and directly resulted in an increase of security manpower.According to reports from CNA, the threat saw the author threatening to stab and kill Winter at Incheon International Airport while on the way to San Francisco for a performance with aespa.“Yesterday, a post threatening Winter’s safety was made on an online community.As soon as we confirmed this, we filed a criminal complaint with the police against the writer of the post in question, and we requested a speedy investigation and cooperation,” SM Entertainment said in a statement, per Soompi.“Additionally, we strengthened our security manpower, and aespa safely departed the country today through the cooperation of bodyguards and the airport police.

NCT are making their full-group comeback this month with a new album, ‘Golden Age’.The group’s agency, SM Entertainment, has confirmed the K-pop band’s return with the ‘Golden Age’ album arriving on August 28. It will mark the band’s first record as a full group since ‘Universe’ in December 2021.While the ‘Golden Age’ album is due for release on August 28, promotions for the record are set to kick off on Monday (August 14).

SM Entertainment has responded to statements that EXO member Baekhyun made in a livestream about new music and the founding of his own company.On Monday (August 7), the K-pop idol went live on his personal Instagram account to address speculation on his finances by Korean netizens. In the livestream, Baekhyun revealed that he had personally founded a company, tentatively named One Signature, with a friend, and that he had taken out a ₩13billion (approximately £77,500) loan for it.“It’s a company I started with my friend Kasper at the thought of wanting to grow many good choreographers and dancers.

Girls’ Generation member Sunny has announced that she has parted ways with longtime agency SM Entertainment.The singer, real name Lee Soon-kyu, took to her personal Instagram page earlier today (August 8) to personally announce her departure from the company. “I want to express my gratitude to SM Entertainment who gave great help so that 19-year-old Lee Soon-kyu could debut as Girls’ Generation’s Sunny,” she wrote in a letter, per translations by Soompi.“Looking back, there are so many people I have been grateful to for the past 16 years.

NCT have shared their upcoming lineup of ‘NCT Lab’ releases, feature solo and unit projects by various members.Today (August 2), the SM Entertainment boyband took to Twitter to announce the launch of the new ‘NCT Lab’ Instagram page, as well as a lineup poster for the project. First launched last February, ‘NCT Lab’ is a series under SM Entertainment’s ‘SM STATION’ project, through which the members of NCT release solo, unit and self-composed tracks.According to the poster, the next ‘NCT Lab’ release will be a solo single by Jaehyun, which has since been confirmed to be released on August 8.

Red Velvet have revealed plans to release their third studio album sometime this year.Yesterday (August 1), Red Velvet held a livestream called ‘Ladies Night’ to commemorate their ninth anniversary as a group. During the event, the girl group revealed that they are working on their long-awaited third studio album, which they aim to release sometime this year.“We are preparing our third full-length album,” member Yeri revealed near the end of the broadcast.

K-pop girl group aespa have teased their upcoming single ‘Better Things’, which is allegedly an unreleased demo track by English singer-songwriter RAYE.Last week, aespa began sharing teasers for a mysterious new release, which the group later revealed would be a single titled ‘Better Things’, due out on August 18 at midnight local time.Today (July 31), the quartet unveiled a teaser for the song which included an 8-bit-inspired snippet of the track playing over a visual of a retro handheld water ring toss game.aespa 에스파 ‘Better Things’➫ 2023.08.18 0AM (KST) / 0AM (PDT) / 0AM (EST)*Releasing at your local time midnight

NCT Dream have released a music video for their single ‘ISTJ’ and their new studio album of the same name.On July 17 at 6pm KST, the seven-member NCT unit made their highly anticipated return with their new single ‘ISTJ’ and its eye-catching music video. The track is the lead single of the group’s third studio effort of the same name, which was also released at the same time.The ‘ISTJ’ visual begins as the NCT Dream members depart the ‘Real Word’ for the ‘MBTI World’, in which each of them are categorised and studied based on their personality types.

SM Entertainment has shared more details about the contracts for the members of its popular K-pop boyband NCT.Today (July 17), the K-pop agency clarified that none of the contracts for members of NCT are due to expire this year. This is despite the fact that 14 of them – namely Taeil, Taeyong, Doyoung, Ten, Jaehyun, Mark, Yuta, Winwin, Haechan, Renjun, Jeno, Jaemin, Chenle and Jisung – are nearing their seventh year in the industry.Most K-pop artists sign seven-year contracts upon their debut, usually leading to speculation surrounding disbandments, renewals and agency moves in a group’s seventh year.

Super Junior have left their long-time agency SM Entertainment.Today (July 14), SM Entertainment announced that members Eunhyuk, Donghae and Kyuhyun would not be renewing their contracts with the K-pop agency after nearly two decades under the company.In a statement, SM Entertainment said that Eunhyuk, Donghae and Kyuhyun “will each be pursuing individual activities”, per Yonhap News Agency and translated by Soompi. But the agency also added that the trio would be “continuing their Super Junior promotions together with SM”.“We will be cheering the three of them on as they take on new challenges, and we plan to communicate closely with them so that they can effectively carry out both their group activities and their solo activities at the same time,” the company added.In the same statement, SM Entertainment also confirmed that the remaining six members of Super Junior – namely Leeteuk, Heechul, Yesung, Shindong, Siwon and Ryeowook – have all renewed their contracts with the K-pop agency.Donghae and Eunhyuk have both been signed to SM Entertainment since making their debut as members of Super Junior in 2005.

NCT 127 will star in their own documentary series called The Lost Boys, set to debut on Disney+ this August.In a press release today (June 6), Disney+ announced that the upcoming four-part NCT 127: The Lost Boys will follow the K-pop boyband as they “take time to pause and reflect on their success”.The nine-member group – made up of Taeil, Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, Mark and Haechan – will open up about their childhoods and feelings about their international success over the course of the series.Notably, each episode of the docu-series will “focus on two-to-three members of the group as they talk about their past”, alongside never-before-seen interviews and exclusive footage.NCT 127: The Lost Boys is directed by Pak Jayil (2020 short film Georgia), and is created by Cho Youngchul (So Not Worth It) and Yim Pilsung (Persona). The series will debut on August 30 with its first two episodes, with the final two premiering on September 6.NCT 127 member Taeyong made his solo debut with ‘SHALALA’ in June.

K-pop boyband SHINee are set to release their own documentary film later this year.Today (July 5), SM Entertainment announced that a documentary film for boyband SHINee is currently in the works, and will be released this September to commemorate the group’s 15th anniversary.Titled My SHINee World, the upcoming film will include never-before-seen content from the group as it outlines their 15-year career and journey with their fans thus far.The agency also shared in a press release that footage from SHINee’s recent three-night concert leading up to their comeback at the KSPO Dome in Seoul, along with behind-the-scenes footage and interviews will be included in the documentary film.Last week, SHINee made a comeback with their eighth studio album ‘Hard’ and its lead single of the same name. The album’s release was preceded by a music video for the song ‘The Feeling’ a week prior, coinciding with the 15th anniversary of SHINee’s fandom SHINee World.The 10-track record is also their first group release in over two years, after their repackaged album ‘Atlantis’ in April 2021.