Author: Samar Khouri

TEN, a member of NCT and WayV, has announced that he will not renew his contract with SM Entertainment. Departure news While his contract will end on April 8, the Thai singer-dancer plans to continue participating in group activities under future agreements with a new agency. “Moving forward, we will continue to stay in close communication to explore opportunities for TEN to participate in WayV and NCT activities, where possible,” SM Entertainment said in a statement on Weverse. TEN debuted in April 2016, alongside Jaehyun, Mark, Taeyong, and Doyoung as NCT U, the first sub-unit of SM Entertainment’s 24-member super…

MARK Lee, a member of the K-pop group NCT, will leave the group and his agency SM Entertainment after 10 years. Contract termination His departure will take effect on April 8, marking the end of his exclusive contract and his activities across all NCT units, including NCT 127 and NCT DREAM, SM Entertainment said in a Weverse statement. The decision was reached after “careful and thoughtful discussion” about the artist’s future, describing the split as mutual. “Since his debut with NCT in 2016, MARK has demonstrated exceptional talent and versatility through both group and solo activities and has delivered remarkable…

KANGMIN of VERIVERY is stepping into a new artistic chapter with the release of his first solo single album, ‘Free Falling,’ becoming the first member of the group to debut independently. New chapter The project offers a candid reflection of the artist’s present self, caught in the uncertain, often disorienting space between boyhood and adulthood. It centers on themes of vulnerability, growth, and self-exploration. At its core, ‘Free Falling’ draws on the act and imagery of its title: the feeling of being suspended mid-air, unable to fully steady oneself, searching for something to hold onto while continuing to move forward.…

BTS’ live concert special, ‘BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG,’ debuted atop Netflix’s non-English TV list with 13.1 million views, according to weekly data from the streamer. Regional, global reach Held at Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square on March 21 to mark the release of the group’s fifth studio album, ‘ARIRANG,’ the performance ranked in the top 10 across 80 countries, including MENA markets such as Egypt, Morocco, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, during the March 16–22, 2026 viewing period. RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook’s highly anticipated return to the stage, which…

BTS has officially marked their long-awaited return with their fifth studio album, ARIRANG, and the group is already commanding traction across MENA. MENA chart dominance Released on March 20, the album arrives nearly three years and nine months after the group’s previous studio project, signaling a highly anticipated reunion moment that is already resonating globally—and particularly across MENA markets. On iTunes, ARIRANG topped the all-genre album charts in multiple countries across the region, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Oman, and Qatar. Meanwhile, the album’s title track “SWIM” secured the No. 1 spot on the all-genre songs chart in…

‘Made in Korea,’ a coming-of-age film set in South Korea, debuted atop Netflix’s most-watched non-English list globally, recording more than 4.1 million views following its premiere on March 12. Top 10 regionally During the March 9–15 viewing period, the release ranked in the Top 10 across 24 countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. ‘Made in Korea’ was the most-watched title in India that week, with 7.7 million hours viewed globally. Cross-cultural story The story follows Shenba, a young woman from a small town in Tamil Nadu, played by Priyanka Mohan, who moves to South Korea…

Romantic K-drama ‘Boyfriend on Demand,’ starring BLACKPINK’s Jisoo, debuted at number four on Netflix’s non-English TV chart for the March 2–8, 2026, viewing period, accumulating 2.6 million views and 25.6 million hours watched worldwide. The 10-episode limited series also ranked in the top 10 across 34 countries, including Oman, Qatar, and the UAE. ‘Boyfriend on Demand’ follows Seo Mi-rae (Jisoo), an overworked webtoon producer whose life leaves little room for romance. When she discovers a virtual-dating subscription service offering fantastical, immersive experiences, she finds herself swept up in a series of perfect fantasy dates — from falling for a secret…

Bang Si-hyuk, the founder and chairman of HYBE, saw his net worth drop to $1.7 billion in 2026 from $2.1 billion last year, according to Forbes’ 2026 ranking of the World’s Billionaires. Forbes used stock prices and exchange rates from March 1, 2026, for this year’s list. Bang’s wealth The music mogul ranks as the fifth-richest in South Korea’s media and entertainment sector, and is the only billionaire whose wealth is derived solely from entertainment. His $1.7 billion net worth is unchanged from 2023. Kwon Hyuk-bin, who founded the gaming company Smilegate in 2002, is the richest person in South…

ENHYPEN member HEESEUNG will depart the group but remain signed to BELIFT LAB, the company confirmed in a statement. According to the label, the decision followed extensive discussions about the group’s future direction and Heeseung’s personal artistic ambitions. BELIFT LAB said the singer has “his own distinct musical vision,” and both sides agreed he would leave ENHYPEN to pursue it. The group will continue activities as a six-member act, while Heeseung will remain under the label and begin preparing his solo debut album. BELIFT LAB added that the move came after “extensive deliberation,” acknowledging that the news may be difficult…

South Korean romantic drama ‘Pavane’ gained momentum on Netflix’s weekly chart, adding 1.3 million views to reach a total of 3.3 million global views in its second week of release, according to the streaming platform’s top 10 non-English film list for the week of February 23 to March 1, 2026. The release achieved popularity in 19 countries, including Morocco, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, during the same viewing period. It also recorded 6.2 hours of viewing time, an increase compared to 3.8 million in the week prior. Released on February 20, the youthful melodrama’s success reflects…