December saw major K-pop events, including SHINee's Key's hiatus, PSY's police investigation, and Kim Woo-bin's wedding.
December/31/2025 17:58
In December, various events occurred, from popular idols' activity suspensions, love rumors, to star couples' weddings. What was the most read article on Kstyle? We reflect on the Korean entertainment industry through the 'December Article Rankings'. [1st Place] SHINee's Key announces activity suspension #December 17, 2025. Comments on relationship with 'Injection Aunt'. SHINee's Key has announced a suspension of activities. Previously, allegations arose that Park Na-rae received illegal medical treatment from a person known as 'Injection Aunt', causing controversy. After it was reported that this person also had connections with Key, his agency SM Entertainment released a statement saying, 'We learned for the first time that A is not a doctor, and we are very confused and deeply regret our ignorance.' They also stated, 'Recognizing the seriousness of the matter, we have decided to withdraw from scheduled activities and ongoing programs.' [Related Articles] SHINee's Key to suspend activities... SM comments on the 'Injection Aunt' relationship. [2nd Place] PSY, police search his agency and vehicle #December 11, 2025. Directed manager to receive psychiatric drugs. The Korean police searched PSY's agency P NATION and his vehicle. They obtained materials related to the allegations through digital forensics from PSY's phone and are considering future summons investigations. Diagnosed with chronic sleep disorders, PSY had been receiving prescriptions for psychiatric drugs without in-person consultations since 2022, and it was revealed he directed his manager to receive them. The agency acknowledged part of the allegations, stating, 'There was no proxy prescription, but a third party received psychiatric drugs on behalf of him.' [Related Articles] 'Gangnam Style' PSY, police search agency and vehicle... suspected medical law violations. [3rd Place] BTS's Jungkook and aespa's Winter dating rumors arise #December 5, 2025. Attention on arm tattoos. Dating rumors have surfaced between BTS's Jungkook and aespa's Winter. Photos of the two with similar designs of three puppies tattooed on their arms spread through online communities. Additionally, their previous instances of wearing similar items and Jungkook attending aespa's performance during his military leave have drawn renewed attention. Regarding this, Winter's agency SM Entertainment briefly stated, 'We have no comment.' [Related Articles] BTS's Jungkook and aespa's Winter, similar puppy tattoos? Dating rumors reignite... agency comments. [4th Place] Kim Woo-bin and Shin Mina finally marry #December 20, 2025. Wedding photos like a movie scene released. Kim Woo-bin and Shin Mina have finally tied the knot after 10 years of public dating. The wedding took place at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, with many stars, including EXO's D.O., BTS's V, and Lee Byung-hun, congratulating them. It was reported that on their wedding day, they donated a total of 300 million won (about 3 million dollars) to several institutions, including hospitals in Seoul. Additionally, monochrome wedding photos reminiscent of a movie scene were released, attracting attention. [Related Articles] Kim Woo-bin and Shin Mina marry today (12/20)! Donated about 3 million dollars before the ceremony. [5th Place] NewJeans announces Daniel's contract termination and Hani's return #December 29, 2025. Minji is under discussion. ADOR announced the termination of Daniel's contract with NewJeans, explaining, 'Violations occurred, such as engaging in solo activities and damaging the group's reputation.' They also announced plans to file a lawsuit against Daniel on the same day. Meanwhile, Hani has returned to the group, and discussions regarding Minji are ongoing. Prior to this, in November, Hae-rin and Hae-in announced they would continue activities with ADOR. Following that, the remaining three members expressed their intention to return, but ADOR stated, 'We are confirming the true intentions' and will continue discussions through individual meetings.
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aespa's upcoming 2nd full album 'LEMONADE' features collaborations with global artists like G-DRAGON, Becky G, and Ty Dolla Sign. The album includes 11 tracks, showcasing a variety of genres, including the addictive electronic dance track 'Switchblade' and the powerful 'LEMONADE (Feat. Becky G)', highlighting the synergy between aespa's vocals and Becky G's rap.
BTS's RM fulfilled a promise to EPIK HIGH's Tablo by visiting Stanford's 'Crying Tree', where he recreated Tablo's outfit for a photo. This visit, inspired by a light-hearted suggestion during their YouTube content, has delighted fans who praised RM's dedication and attention to detail.
BTS's world tour 'ARIRANG' is the largest by a Korean artist, starting in Korea and selling out Tokyo Dome. The tour continues in North America, with a special concert in Busan on June 13, featuring a live viewing experience in cinemas. A new trailer showcases the excitement and fan reactions from the tour's kickoff in Goyang.
The 2024 Kstyle PARTY, now in its third year, took place at K Arena Yokohama on May 9-10. The event featured a variety of K-POP artists, including TAEMIN, who made his debut at the festival with captivating performances. Other groups like BOYNEXTDOOR and RIIZE also delivered exciting shows, making it a memorable event for fans.
On the afternoon of the 18th, the 2026 KOPA & NIKON Press Photo Awards took place at the Libera Hotel in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, where aespa's KARINA was in attendance. She captivated attendees with her translucent skin and a beauty gravure was released. Additionally, a romantic advertisement featuring KARINA has sparked discussions.
aespa showcases a cool attitude, embracing challenges with their upcoming 2nd full album "LEMONADE" releasing on the 29th. It features 11 tracks, including the title song, an electronic dance track with a positive message inspired by the proverb "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade." The group also released a dark teaser for the track "WDA (Whole Different Animal)" and teased a new visual concept for "LEMONADE."
BTS will hold a large-scale event in Busan to celebrate their debut anniversary on June 12-13, 2023. The 'THE CITY BUSAN' project will transform the city with music, cultural activities, and community engagement, featuring drone shows, pop-up stores, and more, allowing both fans and locals to participate.
In a recent YouTube video, Ko So-young shared a surprising candy gift from Jungkook's mother, which she received at a BTS concert. She reminisced about the kind interaction with Jungkook's parents and how they shared the candy with her daughter. Ko also mentioned meeting Jungkook and discussing the candy with him afterward.
BTS's Jin prefers to spend his days off at home, as shared by TXT's Beomgyu on a recent variety show. Beomgyu mentioned their strong friendship and gaming sessions, highlighting Jin's view that staying home is safer than going out, which resonated with the show's hosts. Beomgyu also noted his introverted nature, stating he would rather stay in even during vacations.
On the morning of the 16th, Park Bo-gum and Jinusean's Sean participated in the 2026 TNF 100 KOREA international trail running event in Gangwon-do, Gangneung. Park Bo-gum completed his first 10km marathon, and Sean shared a commemorative photo, praising the experience as 'very wonderful.'
