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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On the morning of the 31st, BTS members SUGA, J-HOPE, and Jimin arrived in Korea via Incheon International Airport after finishing their North America tour, 'ARIRANG'. The article includes photos from local media, and it notes that BTS also won a major award at the American Music Awards after five years.
On the afternoon of the 30th, BTS members Jin, Jungkook, RM, and V returned to Korea via Incheon International Airport after their successful North American tour, which attracted approximately 840,000 fans. As anticipation builds for their upcoming Busan concert, President Lee Jae-myung has called for measures to address rising accommodation costs, warning it could harm the city's image.
BTS's 5th full album 'ARIRANG' maintains its position at No. 2 on the 'Weekly Top Album Global' chart and has achieved gold certification in the UK. The title track 'SWIM' ranks 4th globally and has seen significant movement in various charts. BTS continues to dominate with multiple tracks charting and is set to conclude their North American tour soon.
BTS kicked off their North America tour in Tampa, performing 15 sold-out shows across five cities. The tour generated significant economic impact, with estimates of up to $2 billion in local benefits. Their performances not only showcased their music but also heightened interest in Korean culture, as noted by local media and academic experts. BTS's influence was evident in their interactions with local leaders and communities, further solidifying their global impact.
aespa has released the music video for their title track 'LEMONADE' from their 2nd full album. The video features a vibrant mood and captures the members' unique charm. The song combines a trendy electronic sound with a positive message about turning challenges into opportunities, promising to captivate global listeners with its refreshing summer vibe and diverse musical styles.
aespa mentioned their collaboration with G-DRAGON during a press conference for their 2nd full album 'LEMONADE'. The track 'WDA' features a hip-hop base and showcases aespa's growth. KARINA revealed they envisioned G-DRAGON for the feature, enhancing the song's appeal with his unique style.
On the afternoon of the 28th, aespa held a press conference at the Sofitel Ambassador Seoul Hotel to celebrate the release of their 2nd full album 'LEMONADE.' The title track is an electronic dance song with a strong, trendy synth bass sound. The album features collaborations with artists like G-DRAGON and Becky G, and a highlight medley video was also released.
BTS's music video for '2.0' from their 5th album 'ARIRANG' surpassed 100 million views on YouTube. The video features a creative homage to the film 'Oldboy' and highlights BTS's evolution with a captivating performance. The song, blending hip-hop and trap, showcases their confidence and has charted on Billboard's HOT 100, demonstrating their significant impact in the global music scene.
As BTS's concert in Busan approaches, hotel prices have skyrocketed, with some rates increasing by up to 3.3 times. President Lee Jae-myung urged for improvements to prevent damage to Busan's image and called for fair pricing practices. Local authorities are taking measures to address the issue and ensure a positive experience for fans.
Jungkook of BTS raised questions about the sudden suspension of his Instagram account, which Instagram attributed to violations of intellectual property policies. He posted a question mark on Twitter after discovering the suspension. Meanwhile, BTS recently made a successful comeback with their album 'ARIRANG' and is currently on a world tour, performing in various cities.
