BIGBANG World Tour, Min Hee Jin Loses Again, SNSD Sooyoung Breaks Up with Boyfriend

BIGBANG to Return With New Music and 20th Anniversary World Tour Spanning 18 Cities

Veteran K pop group BIGBANG is preparing a major comeback with a new release and an extensive world tour marking two decades since debut. The group is expected to drop a physical single in August alongside its anniversary celebrations, followed by a global concert run that will stretch into early 2027.

The announcement has drawn strong attention from fans as BIGBANG’s first world tour in nearly nine years signals a major return to large scale stages. The comeback also comes as the group revisits its legacy while preparing fresh music to match its milestone year.

The tour will begin in Goyang, South Korea, before moving across North America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia. Stops include major stadiums and dome venues such as MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Stade de France in Paris, and Tokyo Dome, covering 31 shows in 18 cities. Industry sources also suggest the group may release a three track single rather than a full album due to scheduling limits. YG Entertainment has not confirmed details yet. The anniversary falls on August 19.

Sooyoung (SNSD) and Jung Kyung Ho End 14 Year Relationship, Agencies Confirm

One of South Korea's most beloved celebrity couples has decided to part ways. Girls' Generation member and actress Sooyoung and actor Jung Kyung Ho have ended their relationship after 14 years together, according to a confirmation from Sooyoung's agency.

The breakup brings an end to one of the entertainment industry's longest lasting public romances. Since confirming their relationship in 2014, the pair had been viewed by many fans as a rare example of a stable celebrity couple.

Speculation about their relationship status surfaced online after fans noticed that the two stars no longer appeared to follow each other on social media. Their agency later confirmed that they had recently broken up.

Sooyoung and Jung Kyung Ho began dating in 2012 before publicly acknowledging their relationship two years later. Throughout their time together, both stars occasionally spoke about each other in interviews and received support from fans.

News of the split quickly spread across online communities, with many expressing surprise at the end of the longtime relationship.

ICYMI:

• BTS are set to explore their song lyrics and favorite Korean dishes in an upcoming September book release, developed in collaboration with Hachette Book Group, Running Press, CAKE Corp, and BigHit Music.

• Cherry Bullet members Huh Jiwon and DK lineup members Kim Sehyeon, Jeon Mingyu, Park Jaechan, Kim Juone, and Ryu Giseok are slated to join the messaging platform DearU Bubble starting June 15.

• TXT YEONJUN is preparing to drop his second solo album this July.

• BTS will release the music video for “Merry Go Round” on Spotify on June 19, with details still emerging around the rollout.

• Lee Jae Wook, K-drama actor, is set to make his singing debut with a track produced by Lim Seul Ong of 2AM.

• Sandra Park has launched her own label, ARADNAS, marking a new independent venture in the music industry.

• Tablo’s daughter Haru has joined RIIZE’s comeback as the sole lyricist for their upcoming title track.

HYBE Prevails as Prosecutors Dismiss Min Hee Jin’s Defamation Complaint Over Shaman Allegations

HYBE has secured another legal victory in its ongoing dispute with former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin, after South Korean prosecutors declined to pursue defamation charges related to the company's claims that she consulted a shaman on agency matters.

The decision marks the latest development in the high-profile conflict that has engulfed HYBE, ADOR, and NewJeans since 2024. Min Hee Jin had accused several HYBE and BELIFT LAB executives of spreading false information about her management practices and damaging her reputation through public statements.

Prosecutors, however, concluded that the allegations did not meet the legal threshold for defamation. Investigators found evidence that Min Hee Jin had communicated with a shaman regarding issues connected to agency operations, determining that while some of HYBE's public wording may have been overstated, it was not materially false.

Authorities also dismissed additional complaints tied to HYBE's internal audit of ADOR and Min Hee Jin's claims regarding similarities between BELIFT LAB's ILLIT and NewJeans. The ruling adds to a series of setbacks for Min Hee Jin amid the broader legal battle surrounding ADOR's management and NewJeans' contractual dispute.

Upcoming Tours & Performances

• BIGBANG unveil a 20-date global trek for their 2026 “BIGBANG WORLD TOUR.”

• XLOV outline their 2026 “I,God” tour, covering North America and a LATAM second leg, with dates to be announced.

• CORTIS add a San Francisco stop to their 2026 “PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN” tour.

• Jay Park and LNSHOT jointly announce a 2026 world tour “SERENADES & BODY ROLLS,” spanning 20+ dates.

• Henry Lau announces 12-date 2026–2027 “ENJOY THE SHOW” world tour spanning Oceania, North America, and Asia.

• AKMU reveal two Australian stops for their 2026 “AKMU IN AUSTRALIA” run.

• KARD roll out 8 European dates for their 2026 “KARD EUROPE TOUR.”

• Epik High confirm 13 North American dates for their 2026 “EPIK HIGH 3.0” tour.

• ITZY schedule four European stops for their third world tour, “TUNNEL VISION.”

• AMPERS&ONE confirm a 2026 UK and Europe tour titled “Born to Die,” with cities and dates to be announced later.

Favorite New Music This Week

KATSSERALLIT—a HYBE supergroup bringing together LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT, and KATSEYE—has made its debut this week with “ICONIC BY MISTAKE,” a track that leans fully into electronic pop.

While the production is glossy, punchy, and designed for maximum replay value, the song’s real impact lies in its lyrical framing. Instead of following the familiar pop playbook of confidence anthems built on wealth, beauty, or status, the track takes a more reflective and self-aware approach to visibility in the digital age.

At its core, the song responds to the persistent cycle of online criticism and exaggerated narratives that have surrounded each of the three groups since debut. Rather than directly confronting the haters with aggression, the lyrics reinterpret negativity as fuel for attention, turning harassment into an unintended engine of virality.

Lines such as “your imagination got me going viral” and “thank you for your comment, it’s because of your hate / I am iconic by mistake” underline that perspective shift. The result is but a controlled, ironic statement about fame itself, where even hostility becomes part of the spotlight.

NEXT WEEK’S COMEBACK SCHEDULE

• Monday, June 15, 2026

  • i-dle: 9th Mini Album “We Made”

  • RIIZE: 2nd Mini Album “II”

  • STAYC: 6th Single Album “2:LOVE”

• Tuesday, June 16, 2026

  • N/A

• Wednesday, June 17, 2026

  • ONF: 2nd Album Part.2 “ONF: My Self”

• Thursday, June 18, 2026

  • N/A

• Friday, June 19, 2026

  • N/A

• Saturday, June 20, 2026

  • Sandara Park: Single “REPRISM”

• Sunday, June 21, 2026

  • N/A

— Javeria Yousuf

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