
Korea's major entertainment agency SM Entertainment (hereafter, SM) will hold a large-scale global audition to discover next-generation artists, titled '2026 SM GLOBAL AUDITION.' The '2026 SM GLOBAL AUDITION' will kick off on January 10, 2026, in Busan, South Korea, and will tour Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon, and Jeju Island, culminating in the final auditions in Seoul. Following this, the audition will expand throughout Asia, including Bangkok, Japan (Fukuoka, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka), and China (Shanghai, Shenzhen, Zhengzhou, Beijing, Changsha, Chengdu), and will eventually reach 21 regions worldwide, including the USA (Los Angeles, New Jersey) and Australia (Sydney, Brisbane). Applications are now open on the SM audition official website, and anyone born between 2007 and 2015 can apply regardless of nationality or gender. Applications for the USA and Australia regions are expected to open on March 23, 2025. The 'SM GLOBAL AUDITION,' which started in 2006, is known for its long history and tradition, having produced many artists currently active worldwide, including Wendy and Joy from Red Velvet, Johnny, Yuta, Ten, Mark, Renjun, Kun, Yangyang, and Riku from NCT, and Carmen from Hearts2Hearts. It attracts attention not only from aspiring K-POP stars but also from fans both domestically and internationally. Further details and updates about the '2026 SM GLOBAL AUDITION' will be announced on the official SM audition website and Instagram account. Audition name: '2026 SM GLOBAL AUDITION' Application period: Starts at 12 PM on December 1, 2025, until three days before each regional event. Application method: Pre-registration on the official website (the official site has been renewed and differs from last year). Eligibility: Anyone born between 2007 and 2015 can apply. Audition schedule: Fukuoka → March 20 (Friday, holiday), Tokyo → March 22 (Sunday), Nagoya → March 28 (Saturday), Osaka → March 29 (Sunday). Related links: SM audition official website, SM audition official Instagram.
SM Entertainment announced it is pursuing strong legal action against people who posted defamatory, insulting, threatening, and stalking-related content targeting NCT’s Jisung across platforms like X, YouTube, and SpinSpin. A first-trial court fined one defendant 5 million won, and additional complaints are under police investigation.
Some K-pop artists, including IVE, KiiiKiii, FIFTY FIFTY, and Park Hyo-shin, submitted songs for the Grammy’s new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category, along with Japanese and other Asian acts. But BTS, Stray Kids, and other major-label artists declined, amid debate over whether the category helps or isolates Asian music.
OXFAM SUPERLIVE, a donation talk concert organized by the international relief and development organization OXFAM to support vulnerable people around the world, was held on the afternoon of the 17th at Gwanghwamun Sejong-ro Park in Seoul. Wendy, Lee Je-hoon, EVNNE, and idntt appeared on stage.
At the Seoul Drama Awards 2026 ceremony held on the afternoon of the 8th at KBS Hall in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul, attendees included RIIZE’s Anton, Jin Akanishi, Yoon Ji-sung of Wanna One, Ku Gyo-hwan, Ryu Seung-ryong, Kim Nam-gil, Um Ki-joon, Lim Ji-yeon, Apink’s Jung Eun-ji, Han Go-eun, Moon Ji-hoon (Swings), Kim Min, Lee Jae-won, Park Gyeong-hye, Lee Dong-ha, Lee Yeo-reum, Choi Hyo-ju, writer Kim Eun-sook, Elizaveta Maksimova, Gladys Bay, Paulo Avelino, and announcer Lee Jae-eun.
iKON’s Donghyuk posted photos of stars currently serving in the military, including Kim Young Dae, MONSTA X’s I.M, SEVENTEEN’s Woozi, Kang Daniel, Baekho, Song Gun Hee, and Rowoon. They also shared dance videos to songs like “BAD” and “GENIE,” and had recently appeared at the 2026 Ground Forces Festival.
NCT’s Xiaojun will make his solo debut with his first mini album, Hey, Somebody, set for release on the 26th by SM Entertainment. The album will include five tracks, including Chinese and English versions of the title song. After years of group, collaboration, and OST work, attention is on his first solo album.
On the morning of the 2nd, NCT’s Taeyong, Haechan, and Jaehyun left for Jakarta, Indonesia, via Incheon International Airport for “NCT 127 5TH TOUR 'NEO CITY : JAKARTA - THE REDLINE'.” The article is based on local media coverage, and photo quality may vary. Related reports note that Doyoung and Jungwoo, who are serving in the military, also appeared at the venue, and that NCT 127’s fifth world tour has begun. Their October 24 Saitama Belluna Dome concert will be broadcast live exclusively on WOWOW.
You must be logged in in order to favorite.
Let's Add my favorite members and Cheering them!
