NewJeans-ADOR Lawsuit Hearing Held; NCT DREAM Wins Music Bank First Place
Key Takeaways
- NewJeans-ADOR lawsuit hearing held July 24; mediation set for August 14.
- NCT DREAM's 'BTTF' wins first place on KBS Music Bank July 25.
- Blackpink tops Korea brand reputation rankings; BTS second, Lim Young-woong third.
- Fact Music Awards set for September 20 in Macau with Stray Kids, IVE, aespa.
- MBC teases 'Mary Kills People' drama starring Lee Bo Young, premieres August 1.
Top Stories
NewJeans and ADOR hold July 24 court hearing; mediation set for August 14.
On July 24, 2025, Seoul Central District Court held a hearing in the NewJeans-ADOR lawsuit, with mediation scheduled for August 14. The dispute centers on contract validity and trust issues, highlighting tensions in the Korean entertainment industry.
NCT DREAM wins KBS Music Bank first place with 'BTTF'.
On July 25, 2025, NCT DREAM won first place on KBS 2TV's 'Music Bank' with their song 'BTTF', beating BLACKPINK's 'JUMP' and celebrating with fans.
Blackpink leads Korea brand reputation; BTS second, Lim Young-woong third.
From June 26 to July 26, 2025, Blackpink topped Korea's brand reputation rankings, followed by BTS and Lim Young-woong, reflecting their strong influence in Korean entertainment.
Fact Music Awards set for September 20 in Macau featuring Stray Kids, IVE, aespa.
The Fact Music Awards will be held on September 20, 2025, in Macau, showcasing top K-pop groups like Stray Kids, IVE, and aespa, highlighting their global success.
MBC teases 'Mary Kills People' drama starring Lee Bo Young, premieres August 1.
On July 25, 2025, MBC released a teaser for 'Mary Kills People', starring Lee Bo Young as a doctor providing euthanasia, premiering August 1 at 10 p.m. KST.
Celeb Scoop
Actors Won Bin and Lee Na Young publicly seen together after 10 years.
On July 25, 2025, actors Won Bin and Lee Na Young appeared publicly at Wooyang Museum in Gyeongju, marking their first joint public outing in a decade and exciting Korean entertainment fans.
Shinhwa's Lee Min-woo announces marriage and upcoming KBS show.
On July 25, 2025, Lee Min-woo announced his marriage and plans to appear on KBS 2TV's 'Living Men' next month, sharing his wedding preparations with fans.
Mijoo and Lee Jin-young dating rumors denied amid Hanwha Eagles' win.
On July 25, 2025, Mijoo's agency denied dating rumors with Hanwha Eagles player Lee Jin-young, coinciding with Hanwha's 4-0 win and record sell-out game.
Kim Hye Soo wows fans with ageless appearance at 'My Daughter Is A Zombie' screening.
On July 24, 2025, 54-year-old actress Kim Hye Soo impressed fans with her youthful look at a screening event, fueling excitement for her upcoming projects.
Moon Ga Young launches first Asia fan meeting tour 'Dreamy Day' starting Seoul.
Moon Ga Young announced her first Asia fan meeting tour 'Dreamy Day' beginning September 13, 2025, in Seoul, with stops in Tokyo, Osaka, Taipei, and Bangkok.
Drama Alert
SBS drama 'The Winning Try' portrays rugby coach's fight to save team.
The SBS drama 'The Winning Try' follows Yoon Kye Sang as rugby coach Joo Ga Ram battling school opposition to keep the team alive, highlighting sports themes in Korean TV.
Choi Woo-shik offered lead in 1926-set drama 'Goraebyeol' about independence activism.
Choi Woo-shik is considering the lead role of Kang Ui-hyeon, an independence activist, in 'Goraebyeol', a drama set in 1926 Seoul during Japanese colonial rule.
Soompi spotlights standout moments from 'Law and The City' episodes 5-6.
On July 26, 2025, Soompi featured four key moments from episodes 5-6 of 'Law and The City', emphasizing character development and rekindled relationships.
Lee Jin Uk and Jung Chaeyeon commend their chemistry in 'Beyond the Bar'.
Lee Jin Uk and Jung Chaeyeon praised their teamwork in JTBC's 'Beyond the Bar', premiering August 2, 2025, highlighting strong mentor-rookie dynamics.
Netflix's 'KPop Demon Hunters' showcases Seoul landmarks and Korean cuisine.
On July 25, 2025, Korea JoongAng Daily highlighted Seoul sites and dishes featured in Netflix's animated film 'KPop Demon Hunters', connecting Korean culture to global audiences.
Hyeri offered lead role in new romantic comedy drama 'To You'.
On July 24, 2025, Hyeri received an offer to star as Yi Jae in the upcoming drama 'To You', exploring lives at crossroads alongside Hwang In Youp.
Industry Moves
Former CJ ENM CEO Kang Ho-sung launches KHS Agency for artist management.
On July 24, 2025, Kang Ho-sung founded KHS Agency, offering all-in-one management services for artists and influencers, aiming to enhance Korean entertainment industry support.
K-Pop YouTube views drop as Spotify dominates music streaming revenue.
Published July 25, 2025, the article reports declining YouTube views for K-Pop groups due to platform policy shifts and Spotify's 84% share of industry revenue.
K-Pop Buzz
Boys II Planet faces backlash for xenophobic treatment of Chinese trainee He Zhongxing.
In July 2025, Mnet's 'Boys II Planet' was criticized for ridiculing Chinese trainee He Zhongxing for not speaking Korean, sparking concerns about xenophobia in K-pop survival shows.
North Korean defectors Hyuk and Seok debut in K-Pop group 1VERSE.
In July 2025, defectors Hyuk and Seok debuted with K-Pop band 1VERSE, gaining attention for their transition from North Korea to South Korea's music scene and their TikTok popularity.
Mamamoo's Wheein joins With Us Entertainment for solo and group activities.
On July 25, 2025, Wheein officially signed with With Us Entertainment to support her solo career and group activities after completing an international tour.
Choreographer Lee Jung reveals work on Netflix's 'Kpop Demon Hunters' viral dances.
Lee Jung, a renowned K-pop choreographer, shared insights on creating dances for Netflix's 'Kpop Demon Hunters', including the viral 'Soda Pop' challenge, connecting K-pop culture to global media.
SEVENTEEN's Joshua covers SLANDER's 'Love Is Gone' with intimate rendition.
On July 24-25, 2025, Joshua of SEVENTEEN released a mournful cover of SLANDER's 'Love Is Gone', blending emotional vocals with minimalist arrangement.
ILLIT to perform at TIMA Awards Macau and hold fan concerts in Japan.
ILLIT will perform at the TIMA International Music Awards in Macau on August 23, 2025, and hold fan concerts in Yokohama and Osaka, strengthening their presence in Asian markets.
K-Pop idol Kang Yeseo's limited activity raises concerns amid MADEIN scandal.
Fans worry about 19-year-old Kang Yeseo's career and well-being due to her disappearance from MADEIN's activities amid CEO sexual assault allegations.
BLACKPINK and Bebe Rexha collaboration rumors cause fan debate.
On July 25, 2025, rumors of a BLACKPINK and Bebe Rexha collaboration emerged, fueled by social media posts and a registered song, eliciting mixed fan responses.
Social Scene
Lee Soo Hyuk's PRADA event behavior raises netizen concerns.
A video of Lee Soo Hyuk at a PRADA event showed awkwardness, prompting mixed netizen reactions about his well-being and personality.