Min Hee Jin Wins $17.7M Ruling, 4 Members Depart ZEROBASEONE, T.O.P Returns Solo

T.O.P Releases Trailer for First Solo Album in 13 Years

Since the former BIGBANG member T.O.P appeared in Netflix’s Squid Game Season 2 last year, fans have been speculating about a possible music comeback, and it is finally happening.

On Thursday, T.O.P released a teaser for his first solo album in 13 years, titled “ANOTHER DIMENSION”, which he had been hinting at for the past month. Although the official release date has not yet been announced, anticipation for the comeback is running high.

WAKEONE Ent. Announces Departure of 4 ZEROBASEONE Members

On Wednesday, WAKEONE Entertainment, the agency of ZEROBASEONE, released a final statement regarding the highly anticipated future of the “Boys Planet” temporary boy group. According to the announcement, instead of disbanding at the end of their 2.5-year exclusive contract as planned, ZEROBASEONE will continue activities under WAKEONE Entertainment. However, they will move forward as a five-member group, as the company was unable to reach an agreement with the agency representing four members: Zhang Hao, Ricky, Kim Gyuvin, and Han Yujin.

ICYMI:

• Former EVNNE member Ji Yunseo has parted ways with Yuehua Entertainment.

• The KingDom has announced that they will soon pause group activities, as all members are scheduled to enlist in the military this year.

• Girls’ Generation’s Choi Sooyoung has confirmed that she will join PRODUCE 101 JAPAN: Shinsekai as a producer representative.

• EXO’s Lay has joined as a producer for the boy group NouerA.

• SM Entertainment has frozen CBX’s assets worth 2.6 billion won amid an ongoing dispute.

• N.Flying’s Kim Jae Hyun has confirmed that he will star in the upcoming drama “The Absolute Value of Romance” (literal translation of the Korean title).

• DRIPPIN’s Joo Changuk has announced that he will enlist in the military on February 19 this year.

Court Rules in Favor of Min Hee Jin, Orders HYBE to Pay $17.7 Million

On Thursday, the Civil Agreement Division 31 of the Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin in her dispute with HYBE over a 25.5 billion won (about $17.7 million) stock purchase claim right.

A stock purchase claim right, or “put option,” allows a shareholder to require the company to buy back their shares at a set price. The court found that Min validly exercised this right and that there was no serious breach of contract that would justify ending the shareholders’ agreement. It ordered HYBE to pay her the full amount, along with additional payments to two former ADOR executives.

In its ruling, the court rejected HYBE’s claims that Min attempted to take the group NewJeans away from the company or caused significant damage.

Regarding Min’s allegation that ILLIT plagiarized NewJeans, the court stated that her remarks were expressions of opinion rather than statements of fact. This does not mean the court confirmed that plagiarism occurred; rather, it concluded that Min was entitled to express her personal opinion.

Upcoming Tours & Performances

• Big Ocean has announced its Europe tour, “The Greatest Battle,” which will visit six cities.

• XLOV has shared three dates for its 2026 Latin America tour.

• NMIXX is scheduled to appear at Bloco da Pabllo 2026 in São Paulo, Brazil.

• YVES has added two more cities to her 2026 Europe tour, “Yves Tour.”

• JUSTB has announced its 2026 “Snow Angel Tour” in North America, featuring 14 dates across various cities.

Favorite New Music This Week

WOODZ’s latest pre-release offerings, “CINEMA” and “Bloodline,” are setting the tone for his eagerly awaited first full-length album "Archive. 1" with both emotional depth and bold production style.

“CINEMA” unfolds like its title suggests; a cinematic narrative driven by an irresistible chorus, poignant high notes, and storytelling that feels like watching a film in motion. It’s a showcase of WOODZ’s evocative vocal delivery, one that draws listeners into its emotional arc and cements his knack for narrative songwriting.

On the flipside, “Bloodline” pulses with raw energy. Co-crafted with longtime collaborators and international producers, it channels a rock-and-roll spirit that underscores WOODZ’s artistic versatility and musical roots.

Together, these pre-release tracks not only highlight the breadth of his creative vision but also build genuine excitement for what’s to come in "Archive. 1", proving that WOODZ continues to evolve while staying true to the emotional core that defines his work.

NEXT WEEK’S COMEBACK SCHEDULE

• Sunday, February 15, 2026

  • N/A

• Monday, February 16, 2026

  • N/A

• Tuesday, February 17, 2026

  • N/A

• Wednesday, February 18, 2026

  • RIIZE: 2nd Japanese Single “All of You”

• Thursday, February 19, 2026

  • N/A

• Friday, February 20, 2026

  • Hearts2Hearts: Single “Rude”

  • X:IN: 4th Mini Album “Hyper”

• Saturday, February 21, 2026

  • Kim Sung Kyu: 6th Mini Album “Off the Map”

— Javeria Yousuf

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