Author: Samar Khouri

2PM’s Lee Jun-ho has released a new vlog documenting his two-night, four-day trip to Abu Dhabi, offering fans an intimate look at his travels, his mindset post-filming, and his appearance at a Piaget event. Junho opens by joking that he “teleported from Korea,” still stuck in the spirit of Tae-poong, his character in Typhoon Family. On the plane, he opts not to film much out of shyness, instead updating viewers through written captions. He shares his long-haul routine—sleeping instead of eating, adjusting after restless nights, and using noise-canceling headphones purely to rest. He also reveals he’s been writing music again,…

South Korean actor and singer Lee Sang-yi has been confirmed as the MC for ‘K-Pop Masterz 2025′ in Jeddah, where he will host for the first time in the region. MC gig He will be presenting alongside Saudi presenter Laura Kheimi on November 27 as part of Jeddah Season 2025, the city’s annual festival showcasing music, culture, and entertainment. News of his hosting role adds to the growing anticipation surrounding the upcoming event, which is set to bring together K-pop boy group ATEEZ and BamBam, a GOT7 member and solo artist, for a night of performances and fan interactions. Rising…

BTS member j-hope was spotted in Dubai this week, drawing attention across social media. Dubai bound The rapper-dancer subtly confirmed his journey to Dubai by displaying the Seoul-to-Dubai Emirates flight screen on his Instagram story. On November 17, footage surfaced of the K-pop star arriving at Dubai International Airport, where he appeared in casual attire and traveled discreetly. While no public schedule was announced, he reportedly attended an Audemars Piguet event where he delivered a live performance that included his hit track ‘MONA LISA.’ Footage from the evening circulated online. K-stars in the UAE His visit is one of the…

For rookie boy group VVS, performing in the UAE marked an early but meaningful milestone in their growing journey. Their appearance at the Korea Festival 2025 at Umm Al Emarat Park Amphitheatre, Abu Dhabi, was not only their first time on a stage in the UAE, but also their official debut in the wider MENA region. After being welcomed by a warm and diverse audience in Abu Dhabi, VVS spoke with Yalla KPOP! about the atmosphere, their experience, and goals for 2026, and more. This was your first time performing in the UAE and in the MENA region overall. What…

ATEEZ and BamBam have been officially confirmed to perform in Saudi Arabia on November 27 as part of the Jeddah Season 2025. The concert will take place under the banner of ‘K-Pop Masterz 2025.’ ATEEZ’s Saudi return ATEEZ continues to expand its regional presence. KQ Entertainment’s band previously performed at KCON 2022 Saudi Arabia in Riyadh and brought their ‘THE FELLOWSHIP: BREAK THE WALL’ world tour to Jeddah in July 2023. This time, the K-pop octet will return to Jeddah following their DREAM Concert Abu Dhabi appearance on November 22. ATEEZ also became the first K-pop act to headline Morocco’s…

All five members of NewJeans — Hanni, Minji, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein — have signalled their intention to return to their agency ADOR (a subsidiary of HYBE Corporation), following a year-long contract dispute. The Legal Battle The conflict originated when the group challenged the validity of their exclusive contracts with ADOR, citing what they described as mistreatment and mismanagement under the agency and its former CEO, Min Hee‑jin. In October 2025 the Seoul Central District Court ruled that the contracts between NewJeans and ADOR were valid, meaning the members were legally bound to remain with the agency for the duration…

Korean actor Ryu Soo-young will take center stage at the 2025 K-EXPO UAE with exclusive live cooking shows. A culinary performance On November 15 and 16 at Global Village Dubai, visitors and fans alike will get to witness the veteran actor in action as he crafts dishes that reflect both his personal style and the vibrant world of Korean culture. Ryu is known for his passion for cooking as much as for acting. Since 2020, he has been showcasing his own recipes on KBS’ hit show, ‘Stars’ Top Recipe at Fun-Staurant.’ In July 2025, he released his debut cookbook, ‘Ryu…

YEONJUN of TOMORROW X TOGETHER has officially stepped into his solo spotlight. On November 7, the 26-year-old dropped his first mini-album ‘NO LABELS: PART 01,’ marking his first solo project in six years and eight months since debuting with TXT. A new chapter ‘NO LABELS: PART 01’ captures YEONJUN as he is: stripped of definitions, expectations, or boundaries. “True to its name, the album breaks free from every frame and convention, letting YEONJUN be unapologetically himself—bold, free, and unmistakably embracing YEONJUN-core,” according to BIGHIT MUSIC. YEONJUN’s mini-album presents six tracks that showcase the full spectrum of his artistry. The title…

The Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in the UAE is bringing back its annual Korea Festival to Abu Dhabi, marking the event’s 13th year as one of the UAE’s most anticipated K-culture celebrations. Held under the theme ‘Connected,’ this year’s festival coincides with the UAE’s Year of Community and aims to celebrate the harmony between Korea’s traditional and modern cultural expressions. The two-day event, on November 7 and 8, will feature a packed lineup of performances, cultural programs, and interactive activities open to the public free of charge. K-culture on stage Opening day highlights include a Taekwondo demonstration by Kukkiwon, the…

The K-Expo UAE 2025, the first Hallyu (Korea Wave) exhibition to be held in the Middle East, is set to take place in Dubai this November, featuring a large-scale K-pop concert, cultural exhibitions, and business networking events. K-LOUD concert The highlight of the three-day program will be the ‘K-LOUD’ K-pop Concert, taking place on November 16 at Global Village. The concert will feature performances by CHEN, Punch, Billlie, and Kim Ju Wang, marking Billlie and Kim Ju Wang’s first-ever appearance in the UAE and in MENA. Chen first visited Dubai with EXO in January 2018 for the debut of their…