
It has become clear that Ikuta Toma will appear in "ASEA 2026." The music festival "3rd ASIA STAR ENTERTAINER AWARDS 2026" (hereafter "ASEA 2026"), where top-class artists representing Asia gather, will be held on May 16 and 17 at Saitama's Belluna Dome, and it has been confirmed that Ikuta Toma will perform on the second day. He debuted in 1996 with NHK's "Genius Television Kid" and this year marks his 30th anniversary as a legitimate actor and singer. He is widely known in Korea for dramas such as "Hana Zakari no Kimitachi e - Ikemen♂Paradise -" and "Maou." In 2011, he won the Kinema Junpo Best 10 New Actor Award and the Blue Ribbon Award for New Actor for his performances in the films "Ningen Shikkaku" and "Hanamizuki," earning high praise for his acting skills. He has built a rich filmography with works like "Mogura no Uta," "Yokokuhan," "Kokuhaku Confession," the drama "Bokura ga Ita," the Netflix series "Rikon Shiyou yo," and the stage play "Romeo and Juliet." In 2024, he will sing the theme song for the movie "Kokuhaku" in which he appeared, and recently started his singing career with the theme song "Super Romance" for the Japanese TV drama "Panda yori Koi ga Nigate na Watashitachi." Expectations are high for what kind of performance he will showcase at "ASEA." The "ASEA," which was first held in 2024, has established itself as a global award ceremony that honors artists with significant influence beyond Asia and showcases high-level performances. This year, many top-class artists who have achieved remarkable results over the past year are expected to participate and present a glamorous stage. On the first day, the 16th, Hyunwon from MONSTA X and Rei from IVE will serve as MCs, with performances by &TEAM, CANDY TUNE, CUTIE STREET, ENHYPEN, FRUITS ZIPPER, IDID, KIMURA MISA, SWEET STEADY, and VVUP. Junho from 2PM and Ko Yoon-jung will also appear. On the 17th, Lee Sung-kyung and an undisclosed top K-POP star will host, with ATEEZ, Hearts2Hearts, Ikuta Toma, Kwon Eun-bi from IZ*ONE, NOWZ, THE RAMPAGE from EXILE TRIBE, Wonho, and xikers on the lineup. Actor Lee Che-min will also perform. "ASEA 2026" is organized by Newsen, a leading entertainment and sports media celebrating its 21st anniversary this year, and @star1, a star and style magazine celebrating its 14th anniversary, with the ASEA organizing committee managing the event. "ASEA 2026" will gradually release information about the artist lineup, award categories, and judging criteria through its official website.
LIZDA, a skincare-focused makeup brand, has appointed IVE's Iso as its new muse, aligning with its vision of healthy, radiant skin. Known for its 'idol prep' primer line, LIZDA plans to launch a global campaign featuring Iso, enhancing its brand message. The brand recently succeeded in an offline project at 'AZIP Seongsu,' aiming to strengthen its unique market position in global beauty.
On May 29, &TEAM members FUMA, K, NICHOLAS, and JO participated in the B.LEAGUE AWARD SHOW 2025-26, celebrating the league's 10th anniversary. They presented awards to top players and engaged in a special talk show with the champions, Nagasaki Velca, showcasing their basketball knowledge and respect for the athletes.
On the morning of the 30th, IVE departed Gimpo International Airport for an overseas schedule. Their agency reported 99 accounts for malicious posts and rights violations, stating they would submit evidence of post deletions and ID changes. Additionally, members Wonyoung and Minhyun attended a 'Tommy Hilfiger' event.
On the afternoon of the 29th, a photo call event for the bag brand TUMI took place at the Shinsegae Department Store in Gangnam, Seoul, attended by IVE's Liz and fromis_9's Lee Chaeyoung. However, Lee Chaeyoung was unable to attend another scheduled event due to stomach cramps and dehydration, as reported by her agency.
Ji Chang-wook has been announced as the MC for the Asia Artist Awards 2026, his first hosting role at an awards ceremony since his debut. The event will take place on December 5-6 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, following last year's 10th anniversary. The AAA honors K-culture stars and features a lineup including IVE's Wonyoung as a co-MC.
On the afternoon of the 29th, the CARLYN flagship store opened in Donggyo-dong, Mapo District, Seoul, attended by celebrities including BTOB's Sungjae, IVE's Iso, Red Velvet's Wendy, and Thai actors Emmy & Bonnie. Sungjae expressed admiration for Lee Dong-wook, his co-star in 'Goblin', and Iso from IVE made a cute appearance at the opening event.
On the morning of the 29th, a Tommy Hilfiger pop-up store opened at Lotte Department Store in Seoul's Songpa district. Attendees included IVE's Wonyoung, Minhyun from Wanna One, and members from ALLDAY PROJECT and CRAVITY. The article notes that photos may vary due to local media coverage.
On the afternoon of the 28th, at Seoul's Jamsil Baseball Stadium, Hyunbin from ALL(H)OURS threw the first pitch for the KBO League game between the Doosan Bears and KT Wiz. Additionally, former IZ*ONE member Choi Yena and P1Harmony appeared on the March 25 broadcast of 'SHOW CHAMPION', and ALL(H)OURS released the MV for their title track 'DEAD MAN WALKING', featuring intriguing objects throughout.
IVE's 4th EP "LUCID DREAM" released on May 27, 2026, debuted at No. 1 on Oricon's daily album chart. The EP includes original tracks and Japanese versions of previous songs. The title track explores the theme of dreams as a space for self-reflection. IVE is also on a world tour, with events planned in Japan.
&TEAM's 3rd EP 'We on Fire' debuted at 52nd on the Billboard 200, their first entry on the chart. It also reached 2nd on 'Top Album Sales' and 'World Albums'. The EP sold over 1.09 million copies on its release day, continuing their success after previous hits. They are currently on their second major Asia tour, 'BLAZE THE WAY'.
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