KARD releases farewell album before final world tour and disbandment
Plus: Asia Artist Awards lineup announced, CORTIS and Jungkook hit streaming milestones, and a government-backed fandom festival planned for 2027.
TL;DR
- KARD releases their first full album today before a final world tour wraps up their nine-year legacy as a co-ed group.
- BTS's 'Arirang' jumped to No. 9 on Billboard 200, marking the group's 13th consecutive week in the top ten—a first for K-pop.
- 2026 Asia Artist Awards reveals LNGSHOT, &TEAM, and ATEEZ for its December 5-6 ceremony in Kaohsiung.
- South Korea launches Fanomenon, an 11-day fandom festival and awards show launching December 2027 with 520,000 expected visitors.
Comebacks and releases
KARD's album bids farewell after nine years
The co-ed group releases their debut full-length today before a final world tour and disbandment.
KARD's 'Where To Now? (Part.2): Nowhere' arrives today, completing the co-ed group's nine-year journey with ten songs all members helped craft. After a final world tour starting August 8 in Seoul, the group disbands as members pursue individual careers, but they leave the door open for a future reunion. (via Korea Herald)
August gears up for major releases. Red Velvet drops their first group EP in two years August 3 with 'Velvet Summer,' featuring bossa nova and reggae touches. Stray Kids release their 10th EP 'This & That' August 7, while Enhypen's eighth EP 'The Sin: Bliss' arrives August 21. NCT 127 mark their 10th anniversary August 24 with 'Blingy,' and Big Bang prepare their first music in four years. (via Korea Herald)
Charts and awards
BTS breaks through to chart peak, peers hit streaming milestones
Multiple K-pop artists reached record highs as summer momentum builds.
BTS's 'Arirang' jumped 17 positions to No. 9 on the Billboard 200 dated August 1, marking the group's 13th consecutive week in the top ten—a K-pop first on the main albums chart. Vinyl sales and buzz from their FIFA World Cup final halftime performance drove the surge. (via Korea Herald)
Asia Artist Awards reveals first performer lineup. The 2026 Asia Artist Awards announced LNGSHOT, &TEAM, and ATEEZ as the opening wave of confirmed performers for the December 5-6 ceremony in Kaohsiung's National Stadium. Hosted by Ji Chang Wook and Jang Won Young, the awards show will feature concerts and recognition across K-pop and other genres. (via Soompi)
CORTIS hits one billion Spotify streams. The rookie boy group reached the milestone on July 26 through 13 tracks across two mini albums plus an animated film soundtrack. The five-member group completed 100 million streams in under a month, marking one of K-pop's fastest rises to streaming dominance. (via Korea Herald)
Jungkook's 'Standing Next to You' hits 1.5B streams. The BTS member's retro funk track from November 2023 reached 1.5 billion Spotify plays, his second solo song to achieve the feat after 'Seven (Feat. Latto).' The track peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped global charts. (via Korea Herald)
Artists and groups
ZB1's Kim Ji Woong sits out summer appearances
Acting commitments pull the member from group engagements including the SBS summer awards show.
ZEROBASEONE's Kim Ji Woong will miss certain group activities due to his acting schedule. The Nest Management agency confirmed July 28 that he won't perform at the 2026 SBS Gayo Daejeon Summer on August 9, with the other four members performing without him that day. The scheduling conflict reflects an ongoing balance between group and solo endeavors. (via Soompi)
Industry and agencies
Korea plans massive fandom awards festival for 2027
The government-backed Fanomenon event will span two venues over eleven days with an expected 520,000 visitors.
South Korea's government is launching Fanomenon, an 11-day fandom festival and awards show debuting December 2-12, 2027, across Seoul Arena and Kintex in Goyang. Six concert days will frame an awards ceremony for K-pop, sports, gaming, and other fan-driven fields. Organizers project 520,000 visitors including 200,000 international attendees and over 1 trillion won ($680 million) in economic impact. (via Korea Herald)
Tours and events
VERIVERY launches world tour with eleven-city schedule
The group will visit Asia and Europe starting October in Seoul.
VERIVERY announced their 'GIVE ME FIVE, KEEP THAT VIBE' world tour kicking off in Seoul this October before heading to Jakarta, Osaka, Tokyo, Warsaw, Amsterdam, Cologne, Berlin, Paris, Macau, and Taipei. The tour spans multiple continents and supports the group's latest releases, continuing their 2026 momentum through year's end. (via Soompi)