Korean Newsmakers Of The Week: BTS' Military Enlistment, TWICE's Comeback And More

This Saturday, we bring forth the second week of December's most talked-about Korean stars that made headlines. Be it BTS' military enlistment or the girl band TWICE making a comeback, we have you covered. 

Here are top five newsmakers in the entertainment industry of the week, all the way from South Korea. 

BTS Members Enlist, Make History On iTunes Chart

Following Jin, j-hope, Suga, the remaining four members of the boy band BTS - RM, V, Jimin, Jung Kook - have started their 18-month mandatory South Korean military service. RM and V started their 18-month mandatory military service at the Nonsan Training Center on December 11, while Jung Kook and Jimin followed suit on December 12, joining the same training center where Jin is serving as an assistant instructor. Despite their hiatus, BTS's debut-era songs are experiencing a resurgence on various music charts, a decade after their original release. 'Spring Day' (2017) and 'Outro: Tear' (2018) surged to number one on iTunes rankings, with 'No More Dream' (2013) becoming the first K-pop debut track to claim the top spot on the US iTunes chart. The fact that these songs are still popular and are remembered by all serves as proof of the septet's impact in the industry. The group is expected to make a grand comeback in June 2025.

NewJeans To Perform At 'New Year's Rockin' Eve' Event

K-Pop group NewJeans is currently enjoying their international success with a string of achievements and back-to-back awards. They will be gracing the stage at Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, hosted by Ryan Seacrest and Rita Ora, scheduled to take place on December 31 at 8 pm ET (January 1, 1:30 am IST). This will be the first time a K-pop girl group will be performing at the event on New Year's Eve. Dick Clark Productions announced the impressive lineup for the performance night on December 13, which includes Post Malone, Green Day, Aqua, and others. Though NewJeans will not be physically present at the venue, the five-member group will perform their hits 'Super Shy' and 'ETA' live from South Korea, which would be broadcasted on American TV network ABC.

Jung Kook Drops A New Performance Video, Joins Spotify's Billions Club

Amid his hiatus for military service, BTS' golden maknae, Jung Kook, continues to wield a significant influence on the music industry, even as a solo artist. His debut track 'Seven (ft. Latto)' has soared to the top of Spotify charts, crossing about 1.2 billion streams within five months of its release. This achievement marks a significant milestone, propelling 'Seven' to become the second most-streamed K-pop song of all time, right behind his own band's single 'Dynamite,' surpassing the previous record held by BTS' 'Butter.' This news comes after the singer unveiled a performance video of 'Standing Next To You' in collaboration with Usher on December 15. The subsequent release of the remix video featuring the R&B legend has set the stage on fire. Fans are gushing over the two worlds colliding. 

Kang So-ra Welcomes Second Child

The 'Strangers Again' actress Kang So-ra confirmed the joyous news of her welcoming her second child, a daughter, on December 11. A source from So-ra’s agency PLUM A&C confirmed the news and shared, "Kang So-ra, who gave birth to her second child, and her child are both healthy. They are recovering with family." After getting married to her non-celebrity husband, who is a doctor specializing in medicine, in 2020, Kang So-ra welcomed her first child the very next year. Back in October, her agency confirmed her pregnancy with her second child, and the actress shared stunning pregnancy photographs showing off her baby bump. These maternity photoshoot images were posted on her Instagram and she also updated it on her YouTube channel, detailing her pregnancy journey and sharing insights into her prenatal yoga routine.

TWICE Announces Comeback Single 'I Got You'

TWICE, the K-pop girl group, announced their comeback by stirring excitement by unveiling the teaser picture for their upcoming pre-release single, 'I Got You,' on December 15. The poster revealed the title of the song and announced the song's launch, set for February 2 at 2 p.m. KST (10:30 a.m. IST). Along with the release date, the group shared that the track is available for pre-order on iTunes and pre-save on Spotify. For fans in the United States, the single will be available for purchase in a CD format, with pre-orders starting from Friday, December 15. Additionally, TWICE also gave a glimpse of the cover and CD art, hinting at more visual details for the physical release to be done later in the next few weeks.