February saw shocking news in K-POP, including actor Jung Woo-nu's death, a K-POP idol's extramarital child, and BTS's comeback stage.
March/2/2026 17:38
From the sudden news of death to reports of a K-POP idol's extramarital child, and the decision for BTS's comeback stage, various events occurred in February. What was the most read article on Kstyle? We reflect on the Korean entertainment industry through the 'February Article Ranking'.
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On the afternoon of the 26th, EXO’s Baekhyun left through Incheon International Airport for an overseas schedule. Related headlines mention that the effectiveness of EXO Baekhyun, Xiumin, and Chen’s exclusive contracts has been suspended by the court, and that a YouTuber claimed Baekhyun may have suffered fraud worth 63 billion won from CEO Cha Ga-won.
Laura, Yuu Yamada, and Mizuki Yamamoto appeared at an event held in Ginza, Tokyo, on September 24. Swiss luxury watch brand Hublot held “HUBLOT Special Night” at Ginza Sony Park, bringing together glamorous guests including global ambassador Jungkook, Ryota Katayose, Oji Suzuka, Kouta Nomura, Girolamo, and others.
Hublot held “HUBLOT Special Night” at Ginza Sony Park on September 24, drawing many celebrities to Ginza. Jungkook, the global ambassador, appeared alongside Ryota Katayose, Oji Suzuka, Kouta Nomura, Yuu Yamada, Mizuki Yamamoto, Rola, and Girolamo.
ZEROBASEONE will appear on two Japanese variety shows: TV Tokyo's "Ano-chan's Den Den Denpa♪" on September 29 and TBS's "Yoru no Brunch" on September 30. They will talk Pokémon with ano on one show, and three members will enjoy trending gourmet food on the other. Their second Japanese EP, "Kika LOVE," was released on August 19 and debuted at No. 1 on Oricon's weekly album chart. A surprise free live in Shinjuku drew about 4,000 fans.
HYBE CINE FEST 2026 will run in theaters nationwide from October 30, featuring three concert films from TOMORROW X TOGETHER, ENHYPEN, and SEVENTEEN, plus HYBE CHEERING PARTY screenings. Advance tickets, exclusive bonuses, a 4-show online pass, and a Yurakucho Marui pop-up were also announced.
On a YouTube talk show, EXO’s Suho, SECHSKIES’ Eun Ji-won, SEVENTEEN’s S.Coups, and BOYNEXTDOOR’s Jaehyun discussed leadership. S.Coups talked about Dino’s struggles as the youngest member, and Eun Ji-won praised SEVENTEEN’s 13-member teamwork. Suho then confessed that he sometimes wonders if he should have led EXO more like S.Coups, but Eun Ji-won reassured him that Suho has led EXO in his own way.
Hong Kong wushu athlete Lydia Sham won gold in women’s changquan at the 2026 Asian Games and dedicated the victory to EXO’s Kai. Inspired by a promise made during a fan signing, she trained hard, even incorporating EXO into her gear, and fans praised her as a true success story.
ZEROBASEONE’s Seok Matthew and Park Gunwook have begun a new musical challenge as the hip-hop unit EMP. They released “EMP Mixtape Vol.1: We the Extra,” which includes four songs, two title tracks, and full participation in writing, composing, and producing. More releases are planned for November.
BTS arrived in Korea through Incheon International Airport on the afternoon of the 20th after completing their appearance at the iHeart Radio Music Festival. Related reports noted that BTS performed at the festival for the first time in about six years and closed the event with a powerful performance.
TMA 2026 was held in Busan for the first time and ended successfully after returning to Korea for the first time in three years. Seventeen artists performed, with ATEEZ, NMIXX, RIIZE, and CORTIS winning the grand prizes. The event featured special stages, fan-voted awards, and Busan-themed collaborations.
