Jisoo Apologizes to Fans, THE BOYZ Go Indie, ALD1 Sanghyeon's Surgery

ALPHA DRIVE ONE’s Sanghyeon To Undergo Surgery, Sit Out KCON LA

ALPHA DRIVE ONE’s Sanghyeon will undergo surgery for a vocal cord polyp and temporarily step away from all official activities to focus on his recovery.

On August 4, the group’s agency WAKEONE shared an update on Sanghyeon’s health, explaining that he had continued receiving medical treatment after experiencing throat discomfort. Further examinations confirmed that he had developed a vocal cord polyp, for which surgery was deemed necessary. He is scheduled to undergo the procedure on August 5.

Following the surgery, Sanghyeon has been advised to get sufficient rest and avoid putting strain on his voice for approximately three weeks. As a result, he will sit out all official schedules from August 5 through August 22, with his return depending on his recovery and guidance from his medical team.

This also means Sanghyeon will be unable to participate in ALPHA DRIVE ONE’s upcoming appearance at KCON LA 2026 on August 16. The group is scheduled to take the stage at the festival in Los Angeles, marking one of their major upcoming performances.

WAKEONE stated that Sanghyeon will gradually resume speaking and singing as his condition improves and that the agency will continue working closely with medical professionals to support his recovery.

Fans are sending their well wishes to Sanghyeon and hoping for his healthy and speedy recovery.

THE BOYZ Confirm Nine-Member Group Activities Under New Label System

THE BOYZ will continue group activities as a nine-member group, with Sangyeon, Jacob, Younghoon, Hyunjae, Juyeon, Kevin, Q, Sunwoo, and Eric reaching an agreement on their future promotions.

The announcement puts an end to uncertainty surrounding the group’s future following the members’ departure from IST Entertainment. The nine members have established a new label system for THE BOYZ’s group activities, while each member will pursue individual projects through separate agencies.

According to the members, maintaining THE BOYZ was their priority throughout discussions about their next steps. They emphasized that they wanted to establish a stable foundation for the group before focusing on their respective solo careers, while assuring fans that the team would remain a priority.

The new arrangement will allow the members to work with different agencies for individual activities while coordinating closely for THE BOYZ promotions. Further details about the group’s upcoming schedule will be announced at a later date.

Meanwhile, Sunwoo has signed an exclusive contract with hip-hop label AT AREA for his solo activities. Younghoon has also joined Namoo Actors for his individual career. Both members will continue participating in THE BOYZ group activities under the new label system.

THE BOYZ debuted in December 2017 under Cre.ker Entertainment, which later became IST Entertainment. The group originally debuted with 12 members, with Hwall departing in 2019 and Ju Haknyeon leaving the group in June 2026.

ICYMI:

• SEVENTEEN’s Seungkwan, Ko Kyung Pyo, and others confirmed for the new season of “The Great Escape”.

• G-Dragon’s agency secures court-ordered fines against trolls who posted malicious content online.

• LE SSERAFIM’s agency, Source Music, launches auditions across South Korea’s coastal regions.

• TUIDE set to release their first EP, “TUNE & PLAY,” on August 24.

BLACKPINK’s Jisoo Apologizes to BLINKs Amid Backlash Over 10th Anniversary Celebrations

BLACKPINK’s Jisoo apologized to BLINKs on Saturday, August 8, amid backlash over the group’s 10th anniversary celebrations. In a message shared on Weverse, the singer said she was “especially sorry” for disappointing fans and thanked them for continuing to make BLACKPINK shine throughout their decade-long career.

The apology came after BLINKs expressed frustration over what they viewed as a lackluster anniversary celebration. YG Entertainment initially announced just one in-person event for 40 paid Weverse members, with the fan event revealed only two days before BLACKPINK’s August 8 debut anniversary. The limited plans sparked criticism from fans, who argued that a milestone as significant as the group’s 10th anniversary deserved a more substantial celebration.

Despite the controversy, all four BLACKPINK members ultimately attended the anniversary fan event in Seoul on Saturday. Jisoo addressed fans directly afterward, writing that she was sorry once again for causing disappointment and expressing her gratitude and love for BLINKs. She also asked fans to leave “a little room” for her sincerity despite their frustrations.

BLACKPINK debuted under YG Entertainment in 2016 with “Square One.” While the members did not renew their individual contracts with YG in 2023, they remained with the agency for group activities. Since then, Jennie, Rosé, Lisa, and Jisoo have each pursued individual activities through their own respective labels or agencies, leaving less time for group activities.

Upcoming Tours & Performances

• TUIDE will hold its debut showcase on August 24 at 8 p.m. KST at YES24 HALL, with the event also streaming live via TUIDE’s Weverse and HYBE LABELS’ YouTube channel.

• The 2027 D Awards will take place in Paris, marking the first time a major K-pop awards ceremony will be held in Europe.

• KATSEYE is bringing “Pinky Up” to late-night television, with the group set to make its performance debut on The Tonight Show.

• ALL(H)OURS has announced its first world tour, “Rise Up,” featuring three dates across international locations.

• SHINee’s Taemin has unveiled five Latin American stops for his 2026–27 world tour, “LiMiNaL,” spanning five cities across the region.

Favorite New Music This Week

This week Red Velvet welcomed summer with “Surfin’,” a breezy bossa nova-inspired track that feels effortlessly charming. Rather than chasing an explosive summer anthem, the song embraces a softer, more relaxed mood, allowing the members’ distinctive vocals to take center stage. Their layered harmonies add warmth and richness to the laid-back production, while the smooth melody gives the track an easygoing, nostalgic quality. The bridge is especially captivating, adding a touch of drama without disrupting the song’s mellow atmosphere.

“Surfin’” may be understated, but that is precisely its appeal. It’s a refreshing change of pace that captures Red Velvet’s versatility while delivering the perfect soundtrack for a slow summer day.

NEXT WEEK’S COMEBACK SCHEDULE

• Monday, August 10, 2026

  • KiiiKiii: 3rd EP “Pop Off Pop Off”

  • Miyeon (i-dle): Japanese Digital Single “Run Away”

  • WayV: 8th Mini Album “Vision Wings”

• Tuesday, August 11, 2026

  • Joeng Eunji (Apink): 5th Mini Album “Summer, I”

• Wednesday, August 12, 2026

  • Hearts2Hearts: 1st Japanese Single “Iconic Heart”

  • AxMxP: 2nd Mini Album “HELLO AxMxP”

• Thursday, August 13, 2026

  • HYNN: EP “Traces of Summer”

• Friday, August 14, 2026

  • N/A

• Saturday, August 15, 2026

  • N/A

• Sunday, August 16, 2026

  • N/A

— Javeria Yousuf

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