Author: Samar Khouri

ITZY made their performance debut in Morocco at the 2026 edition of the Mawazine Festival in Rabat on Tuesday. YEJI, LIA, RYUJIN, CHAERYEONG, and YUNA performed fan-favorite tracks such as ‘Wannabe,’ ‘Dalla Dalla,’ ‘That’s a No No,’ and ‘Motto,’ marking the JYP Entertainment girl group’s first appearance at the festival and in the region. Here are ITZY at Mawazine in photos:

MYSTIC STORY has confirmed that ARrC has officially concluded its activities following discussions with the members, less than two years after the boy group’s debut in August 2024. End of activities In a statement titled “Announcement regarding ARrC’s Activities,” the Korean agency stated that the decision was reached following “extensive and thoughtful discussions” with the seven members. As a result, members ANDY, CHOI HAN, DOHA, HYUNMIN, JIBEEN, KIEN, and RIOTO will move forward individually and pursue new opportunities in their respective careers. ARrC ended its group activities on June 23, 2026. “We would like to extend our deepest appreciation to…

EVAN has officially stepped into his solo era with the release of his debut digital single, RIDE OR DIE. The two-track project marks his first independent statement as an artist, positioning him as a hands-on creator shaping both sound and vision from the ground up. Built around the familiar phrase “ride or die”—often used to describe unwavering loyalty—the release translates that sentiment into a more personal, introspective framework. Across both tracks, EVAN leans into themes of emotional dependence, vulnerability, and self-reflection, using contrasting sonic styles to frame different sides of the same emotional landscape. The title track, “Ride or Die,”…

After more than a two-year hiatus, OMEGA X returned with renewed growth and experience through its fourth mini-album, ‘UNCAPPED.’ Track guide The five-track collaborative album with Kooky features seven of OMEGA X’s 10 members: JAEHAN, YECHAN, XEN, KEVIN, SEBIN, JEHYUN, and HWICHAN, and reflects the group’s unrestrained energy. It opens with ‘Day Zero,’ a UK garage-inspired track that reimagines starting over not as loss, but with excitement. The title track, ‘Uncapped,’ follows, capturing the moment of release as barriers fall away and long-held restraint gives way to freedom. ‘Close to Me’ reflects on acceptance and embracing differences. It is followed…

‘Teach You a Lesson’ remained at the top of Netflix’s non-English TV list with 21.1 million views, a sharp increase from 6.4 million in its debut week, and was the most popular title in MENA during its second week on the streamer. Second week performance The action-packed K-drama was the No. 1 show in 46 countries, up from 10 countries during the June 1–7, 2026, viewing period, according to Netflix’s latest weekly tally. Those markets include Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, and the UAE, while it also topped the chart in Oman during its second week.…

‘Teach You a Lesson’ debuted at No. 1 on Netflix’s non-English TV list with 6.4 million views and ranked among the top 10 shows across the region during the June 1–7, 2026, viewing period. Regional position Released on June 5, the action-packed K-drama ranked among the top 10 shows in 48 countries, including Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, and reached No. 1 in 10 countries, including Oman. It recorded 68.7 million hours of viewing time. ‘Teach You a Lesson,’ starring Kim Moo-yul, Lee Sung-min, Jin Ki-joo, and Pyo Ji-hoon, centers on a government…

WAKEONE’s ALPHA DRIVE ONE and izna have partnered with REPUBLIC Collective, a division of Universal Music Group, to accelerate the groups’ international expansion, Partnership deal Under the agreement, REPUBLIC Collective will support both acts’ overseas marketing strategies, album rollouts, and broader global distribution efforts. The partnership is positioned as a key step in strengthening the international presence of both groups as they continue to expand beyond the Korean market, and underscores WAKEONE’s broader strategy of positioning its new-generation acts for sustained international visibility. izna’s ascent Formed through Mnet’s global audition program ‘I-LAND 2,’ izna debuted in November 2024 after being…

Forbes has released the 11th annual edition of its 30 Under 30 Asia list, featuring 300 young entrepreneurs, leaders, artists, athletes, innovators and more across the Asia-Pacific region. The list highlights individuals, all under the age of 30, pushing boundaries in 10 diverse categories that include Consumer & Enterprise Technology, AI, Entertainment & Sports, Social Impact, and Finance & Venture Capital. With 18 countries and territories represented, India has the most entries (78), followed by China (46), Australia (38), Japan (32), and Indonesia, Singapore, and South Korea with 18 each. Among those on this year’s 30 Under 30 Asia Entertainment…

Boy band AND2BLE may have only just debuted, but its members are already among the most recognizable young idols in K-pop. Formed by former contestants and winners from Mnet’s hit audition show “Boys Planet” (2023), the five-member group officially launched this week with its debut EP, “Sequence 01: Curiosity.” Unlike many rookie acts starting from scratch, AND2BLE enters the industry with years of stage experience and an established fan base. The group consists of former ZeroBaseOne members Zhang Hao, Ricky, Kim Gyu-vin, and Han Yu-jin, alongside Yoo Seung-eon, formerly of EVNNE. The members previously trained together under YH Entertainment before…

ITZY has officially been confirmed to perform at the 21st edition of the Mawazine Festival in Rabat, Morocco, on June 23. Debut appearance The performance will mark ITZY’s debut in Morocco, MENA, and at the festival itself. JYP Entertainment’s artists will also become the second K-pop girl group to perform at Mawazine, following aespa’s appearance at last year’s edition, further highlighting the festival’s increasing connection with K-pop audiences in MENA. Back in June 2024, ATEEZ made history as the first K-pop act to headline the festival. 2026 lineup Mawazine will once again showcase a mix of global and regional music…