
The music platform MelOn announced the '2025 Korea & Overseas Annual Chart' TOP 100, showing the most loved songs of the year at a glance. According to MelOn, the number one song on the Korean annual chart was won by Jo Seung-youn (WOODZ), who created the 'myth of chart reversal.' Released in 2023, 'Drowning' became a major topic with its live video and climbed to the top of the 2025 annual chart, recorded as the best hit song. In 2025, the strength of male solo musicians was particularly prominent, with G-DRAGON making a comeback after 11 years with his full album 'Übermensch,' and his song 'HOME SWEET HOME (feat. SOL & D-LITE)' ranking second on the annual chart, heralding a glamorous return. Singer-songwriter Lee Mujin had four songs, including 'Episode,' ranked in the annual chart, demonstrating his presence as a 'strong source.' 10CM sparked a challenge boom with the Korean version of the anime 'Kimi ni Todoke' opening song, ranking 10th. The rise of new generation artists was also notable, with the mixed-gender group ALLDAY PROJECT's 'FAMOUS' at 23rd, STARSHIP's rookie girl group KiiiKiii's 'I DO ME' at 63rd, and SM girl group Hearts2Hearts' 'The Chase' and 'STYLE' at 81st and 89th respectively, showing their presence. Additionally, BOYNEXTDOOR's 'IF I SAY, I LOVE YOU' ranked 12th, BABYMONSTER's 'DRIP' at 28th, and ILLIT's 'Magnetic' at 43rd, highlighting the popularity of fifth-generation idols and raising expectations for their activities in 2026. BLACKPINK, returning as a complete group after three years, also showed their strength, with their new song 'JUMP' entering at 27th, while the members' solo songs also gained popularity. In particular, Rosé and Bruno Mars' collaboration 'APT.' ranked 6th, and Jennie's 'like JENNIE' ranked 11th, proving the global syndrome with their results. The activities of 'strong sources' continued, with DAY6 having six songs ranked, including 'HAPPY' (8th) and 'To Become One Page' (17th), and aespa also having six songs ranked, including 'Whiplash' (3rd) and 'Supernova' (22nd), making both groups the most ranked artists. IVE and G-DRAGON also had five songs charted each, showcasing their strong source power. On the overseas chart, the OST of the Netflix anime 'KPOP Girls! Demon Hunters' set an unprecedented record, with EJAE's 'Golden' winning first place and a total of eight songs from the OST entering the top 30. The luxurious collaboration of Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars' 'Die With A Smile' ranked 3rd, while Kendrick Lamar, who gained attention for his performance at the Super Bowl halftime show with 'Not Like Us,' and SZA's collaboration 'luther' also hit the charts. The popularity of J-POP has also become mainstream, with Kenshi Yonezu's theme song 'IRIS OUT' from the 'Chainsaw Man' movie ranking 9th, and the ending song 'JANE DOE' by Kenshi Yonezu and Hikaru Utada ranking 64th. Other songs like tuki.'s 'Banquet Song' and Official HIGE DANDism's 'Pretender' also charted, showing their presence.
On the afternoon of the 30th, aespa departed from Incheon International Airport to Japan for SMTOWN LIVE 2025-26 in Fukuoka, taking place on January 31 and February 1 at the PayPay Dome. This marks the first SMTOWN LIVE event in Fukuoka, featuring performances from artists like TVXQ, NCT DREAM, and aespa.
Young K from DAY6 and several other notable artists have been promoted to full members of the Korean Music Copyright Association (KOSCAP). This recognition highlights their significant contributions to various music genres, including pop and classical, and reflects the evolving landscape of the Korean music industry.
ILLIT's inaugural live tour 'PRESS START❤' kicks off in Seoul on March 14-15, 2026, and visits five cities in Japan from June 13, including Aichi, Osaka, Fukuoka, Hyogo, and Tokyo, before concluding in Hong Kong on August 22. This tour marks their first solo performances in several cities, following a successful fan concert in Japan last year.
IVE has kicked off the countdown to their 2nd full album 'REVIVE+', set for release on February 23. They are unveiling a series of teasers, including concept photos and a music video for the pre-release track 'BANG BANG', to build anticipation among fans. The members showcase unique fashion styles, enhancing their visual synergy.
The Supreme Court rejected YouTuber A's appeal regarding violations of communication laws. A was sentenced to 2 years in prison (suspended for 3 years) and fined for posting false videos of celebrities like IVE's Wonyoung and BTS's V and Jungkook, earning approximately 2.5 billion won. Wonyoung and her agency are also pursuing damages.
On the morning of the 29th, a photo event for BARRIE's 2026 collection was held in Seoul, featuring attendees like IVE's Wonyoung, NCT's Yangyang, THE BOYZ's Hyunjae, and &TEAM's EJ. Wonyoung is rumored to be launching her own brand and possibly a solo album, while NCT members and BTOB's Changsub revealed insights about the audition show 'UNIVERSE LEAGUE.'
At BLACKPINK's Tokyo Dome concert, Rosé wore custom Levi's outfits that combined traditional craftsmanship with her bold, rock-inspired aesthetic. Each outfit featured unique finishes, premium materials, and edgy details. Highlights included a 'Tokyo 26' studded T-shirt dress, a vintage Levi's T-shirt with custom shorts, and a striking leather mini skirt with electric blue and silver stripes.
In a recent podcast appearance on 'Call Her Daddy,' BLACKPINK's Rosé opened up about her dating experiences, including a humorous story about disguising herself as an old woman to go on a date. She expressed her desire to find love while grappling with the pressures of public scrutiny and the challenges of being a K-pop star. Rosé hopes to one day be open about her relationships but currently keeps them private. She was also nominated for multiple Grammy Awards for her collaboration with Bruno Mars.
MBC announced the cancellation of 'Show Music Core in MACAU' scheduled for February 7 and 8 due to local circumstances. They apologized to fans and stakeholders, expressing hope to reschedule in a more stable environment. The event was set to feature artists like ENHYPEN and NCT's Mark, but now fans will miss their performances.
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