KpopWise | Kpop News and Exclusives • 2nd April 2026

[Concert Review] "I've been waiting too long," Jackson Wang Let ‘MAGICMAN II’ Loose At The Kia Forum

On March 31, at one of the most iconic indoor music venues in Inglewood, the Kia Forum, the ‘MAGICMAN II’ World Tour arrived in Los Angeles, kicking off the six-city North American run. The tour continues through Oakland, Vancouver, Rosemont, Brooklyn, and Toronto, with additional stops across Latin America. After the first video was shown, Jackson was lifted into the air, and a beam of light was cast down on him. With the opening of “High Alone,” accompanied by screams and cheers, the concert t...

KpopWise | Kpop News and Exclusives • 12th March 2026

[Exclusive Interview] Meet Emmy-Nominated Journalist Clint Edwards in a K-Pop Conversation

People who want to start in the journalism industry often imagine a very structured career path. However, Washington-based Emmy-nominated video journalist and FOX 13 Seattle “K-Pop Catch Up” host Clint Edwards proves otherwise.

The creator of the YouTube series “Fan Service” has a background in film and photography. Edwards reflected on his unexpected path into journalism – transitioning between fandom to professional reporting and developing his own storytelling voice. Through self-produced in...

KpopWise | Kpop News and Exclusives • 28th February 2026

EVERLAST: UNIS Brings the Last Stop to The LA Echoplex Stage

On February 27, the eight-member South Korean girl group UNIS completed their first 14-city tour, ‘2026 UNIS 1st Tour: EVERLAST,’ across North America and Latin America, with Los Angeles being the concluding stop. The girls (Hyeonju, Nana, Gehlee, Kotoko, Yunha, Elisia, Yoonah, Seowon) successfully wrapped up at the Echoplex, a live music venue at the heart of the Echo Park neighborhood in downtown LA, to celebrate and build on their global growth.

Formed through the SBS reality show Universe T...

Phoebe's Press • 21st February 2026

[Concert Review] LEE HEE MOON Hits The LA Stage With OBSG

On February 19, the South Korean Sorikkun (traditional folk singer) Lee Hee Moon hit the stage at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles with his band OBSG, rocking the stage in heels with a setlist of 15 “Joseon Pop” (Traditional K-Pop) songs.Presented by KCCLA (Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles) as part of the Touring K-Arts Program, the Lunar New Year concert welcomes vocalist Lee Hee Moon, creating a special, crowd-filled evening. The performance followed his successful show on Tuesday,...

KpopWise | Kpop News and Exclusives • 10th February 2026

2026 BIGBANG Comeback Officially Announced By G-Dragon

Phoebe Yao is a Los Angeles–based freelance entertainment journalist covering K-pop, K-drama, and the global rise of Korean culture. She writes with a strong passion for Korean music and culture.

Phoebe Yao is a Los Angeles–based freelance entertainment journalist covering K-pop, K-drama, and the global rise of Korean culture. She writes with a strong passion for Korean music and culture.

KPOPPOST • 17th January 2026

How BTS Reordered the Rules of K-Pop Global Success - It's a Legacy

BTS reshaped the K-pop business by shifting power from company-defined strategies to audience-driven success. Rather than waiting for institutional approval, global fans propelled BTS into a new economic model that redefined scale and influence. As the BTS Comeback 2026 approaches, their legacy offers a clear case study of how modern K-pop business is built through participation, demand, and global reach.


On January 5, Big Hit Music confirmed that BTS would release their fifth album on March...

Substack • 13th January 2026

[INTERVIEW] Naomi Watanabe: Global Fans’ Perspective Gave Me Confidence

On December 14, Naomi Watanabe was honored with the ‘Global Groundbreaker Award’ at the Unforgettable Gala 2024.Japanese comedian and actress Naomi Watanabe recently hosted her first English-language stand-up comedy show in the US. Her one-night special in New York sold out so quickly that the second show added to the schedule also sold out.While many have anticipated her upcoming projects, Asia Lab chose to recognize her amazing comedic personality with an award that shakes the ground — ‘Global...

Substack • 13th January 2026

[INTERVIEW] Mike Angelo Joins the Unforgettable Gala 2024 as a Presenter

Thai actor and singer Mike Angelo joined the annual celebration, Unforgettable Gala 2024 on December 14. Bringing an upbeat, humorous energy that matched Naomi Watanabe, honoring the contagious laugh she brings to her audiences on stage, and presenting her with the ‘Global Groundbreaker Award’.Asia Lab, sponsor and partner, recognized Mike Angelo’s cross-cultural work and extended an invitation. Representing Asia Lab as a press journalist, we had the opportunity to talk with him about his though...

KPOPPOST • 5th January 2026

How CORTIS Shifts the K-pop System: World-Building to Artist-Defined Identity

What makes a K-pop concept truly unforgettable? Is it the uniquely crafted universes of groups like EXO or the newer generation CORTIS that are challenging K-pop norms by prioritizing creative freedom and self-defined identity?


For years, K-pop thrived on precision. Entertainment agencies and companies assigned concepts and defined their identities, building the narratives behind each group that became the central story. From the rise of second-generation in the 2000s through the early 2010s,...

KPOPPOST • 20th December 2025

K-Pop Industry’s Secret: How G-Dragon Shifts the Business Strategy

Did comebacks evolve beyond release schedules into a global “visibility growth strategy,” or has that model been completely replaced by a more sustainable K-pop business strategy after comebacks?


If you sat with the schedule of a K-pop group, you probably have realized that for decades, Korean entertainment relied on comeback and chart results for promotions. What felt like a great decision in the industry fell apart. What tasted sweet has finally rotted in the mouths of the Korean entertainm...