Imagine BTS walking into an 80s music studio with giant hair, flashy jackets, and absolutely zero smartphones in sight. Or BLACKPINK serving full retro diva energy with bold outfits and dramatic hair. Sounds like an alternate universe? The internet is already making it happen. A new 80s AI photo trend is taking over social media, and people are having way too much fun imagining what their favorite celebrities would have looked like if they had grown up in the decade of big hair, loud fashion, and iconic film cameras. We can't wait to share these looks with you, Dojeon Fam! Instead of simply adding a vintage filter, AI transforms modern photos into full 1980s-inspired portraits. Think oversized hairstyles, colourful outfits, statement accessories, denim, soft lighting and that grainy old photo effect that makes everything look like it came straight from a family album. So naturally, K-pop idols had to enter the chat. From BTS looking like they could have their own retro boy band movie to BLACKPINK giving glamorous 80s superstar energy, the possibilities are honestly endless. SEVENTEEN could easily look like the coolest group at an old-school dance, while Stray Kids would probably bring their own rebellious twist to the decade. The trend has become popular because it gives people a chance to mix modern celebrity culture with old-school nostalgia. It is also incredibly easy to play around with. Users can upload a photo and ask AI to keep their features while changing the clothes, hairstyle, setting, and overall photography style to match the 80s. BTS (Credits: Getty Images) And why is everyone suddenly obsessed? Maybe because the 80s aesthetic is just too fun to resist. There are no boring selfies here. It is all dramatic poses, retro glamour, and enough hair volume to have its own fan account. Our Opinion on BTS’ 80s Look Honestly, picking a favorite feels impossible. Each member brings a different retro energy to the look, from cool and effortless to full-blown vintage heartthrob. Rather than putting them in a strict ranking, this is one of those cases where all seven simply look good in their own way. For the gallery, we can then give each member a fun individual caption without assigning them numbers or ranks. Now, the real question is simple: which K-pop group would absolutely own the 80s? Do let us know in the comments section. #BTS #SEVENTEEN #BLACKPINK #STRAYKIDS #80strend

BIGBANG is officially back, and “BiiiG” may be the most BIGBANG-looking BIGBANG music video we could have gotten in 2026. Twenty years after G-Dragon, Taeyang, Daesung, T.O.P. and Seungri first introduced BIGBANG to the world, the group has returned with “BiiiG,” their first new song since 2022’s “Still Life.” Released on August 19—the exact anniversary of their 2006 debut—the single launches a new chapter for the trio of G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung. And after watching the music video, one question immediately comes to mind: Did BIGBANG just bring back the old-school K-pop aesthetic? The answer is yes… but with a very important catch. BigBang promotional poster for "BiiiG" (YG Entertainment) “BiiiG” doesn't attempt to recreate “Fantastic Baby,” “Bang Bang Bang,” or “Loser” shot-for-shot. Instead, it takes the ingredients that made classic BIGBANG videos so recognizable—swagger, strange styling, explosive color, controlled chaos, attitude and individuality—and rebuilds them for 2026. And honestly? That may be the smartest anniversary move they could have made. The First Thing You Notice: This MV Is LOUD “BiiiG” wastes absolutely no time reminding viewers that BIGBANG has never been interested in blending into the background. The music video plays with intense primary colors, surreal sets, unusual props, dramatic lighting and deliberately chaotic compositions. Red, yellow and blue become a major part of the visual language, turning the screen into something that feels halfway between a fashion editorial, an art installation and one extremely expensive house party. That colorful approach had already been teased before release, but the finished video pushes it much further. One contemporary review described the MV as a colorful, chaotic visual world in which the members feel like individual pieces of a larger puzzle. And that is an important distinction. BIGBANG's greatest visual trick has always been allowing its members to look completely different while somehow making those differences feel like the point. G-Dragon doesn't need to dress like Taeyang. Taeyang doesn't need to dress like Daesung. They can occupy three completely different fashion universes and still look unmistakably like BIGBANG. That philosophy is all over “BiiiG.” Watch it again: The Sound: Old-School BIGBANG Energy With a 2026 Twist Musically, “BiiiG” goes straight for hip-hop. YG describes the track as a high-energy hip-hop song built around a powerful beat and addictive repetitive hook, with G-Dragon involved in both writing and composition. The song puts his rap presence front and center while Taeyang and Daesung provide the vocal contrast. And this is where the comeback gets interesting. At first listen, “BiiiG” doesn't sound like a lost 2014 BIGBANG single. There are contemporary rhythmic elements in the production, including a dance-oriented electronic edge that some fans have already described as unexpected. Early fan discussion has particularly highlighted the song's experimental rhythmic direction and Daesung's vocal moments. But underneath that modern production is something extremely familiar: BIGBANG's attitude. That is arguably more important than simply recycling an old sound. The group has never been defined by one genre. They've jumped between hip-hop, electronic music, pop, ballads, rock influences, and club music throughout their career. So “BiiiG” doesn't need to sound exactly like “Bang Bang Bang.” It needs to sound like BIGBANG making whatever BIGBANG wants to make. And that is exactly what it does. The “BiiiG” Hook Is Peak BIGBANG Then comes the ridiculously simple hook: “Everything big big big big.” It is goofy. It is catchy. It is completely on brand. And most importantly, it sounds like something BIGBANG would have gotten away with years ago. The lyrics also reference “Bangbong,” BIGBANG's iconic light stick, turning the anniversary song into something of a conversation between the group and V.I.P. (their official fandom name). That little detail matters. Because “BiiiG” isn't just saying we're back. It's saying: You were here with us. After two decades, that fan connection is arguably the emotional center of the comeback. The Outfits: This Is Where the Old BIGBANG DNA Really Shows If you came to “BiiiG” hoping for the kind of fashion chaos that made BIGBANG one of K-pop's original style disruptors, you won't be disappointed. The group's anniversary campaign has already mixed high-fashion polish with punk-inspired streetwear. At the same time, the broader visual concept has moved between vivid colors, surreal imagery, suits and deliberately unusual styling. Still from "BiiiG" (YG Entertainment) The MV takes that philosophy and cranks it up. Rather than giving the three members identical outfits and trying to make them look like a perfectly synchronized idol unit, the styling emphasizes their personalities. G-Dragon: Fashion as a Personality Trait Of course, G-Dragon looks like G-Dragon. That sounds obvious, but it is actually one of the biggest reasons the MV works. His styling carries the eccentric, unpredictable quality that has defined his image for years. Instead of simply dressing “cool,” the clothes feel like part of the performance itself. That's classic GD. He has always treated fashion as another form of songwriting. Taeyang: The Cool Factor Taeyang "BiiiG" promo poster (YG Entertainment) Taeyang brings the balance. While G-Dragon's styling tends to draw your eye toward experimentation, Taeyang's presence grounds the frame with his effortless cool. It's a very BIGBANG combination: one member looks like he walked out of a fashion fever dream, another looks impossibly cool, and somehow it works. Daesung: The Surprise Style MVP? Daesung "BiiiG" visual poster (YG Entertainment) Here's the twist: Daesung may be the sleeper fashion winner of “BiiiG.” Fan reactions immediately singled him out, with viewers praising his appearance and calling attention to how good he looks throughout the video. And it makes sense. For years, Daesung was frequently positioned as BIGBANG's comedic or variety-loving member. “BiiiG” gives him a chance to occupy the frame with considerably more swagger. He doesn't disappear beside G-Dragon's fashion eccentricity or Taeyang's charisma. He owns his moments. So… Is “BiiiG” Actually Old-School BIGBANG? This is where things get really interesting. Let's compare the new video with the group's classic visual identity. 1. Controlled Chaos — YES Classic BIGBANG music videos were rarely visually “safe.” Think: “Fantastic Baby” “Bang Bang Bang” “FXXK IT” “Bae Bae” “Good Boy” “Loser” They all have radically different aesthetics, but they share one fundamental characteristic: Something weird is always happening. “BiiiG” absolutely understands that. The video isn't trying to make every frame symmetrical, elegant, or predictable. It embraces visual clutter and unexpected combinations. One review described that feeling as a kind of “controlled chaos,” which is probably the perfect description. 2. Individual Member Personalities — YES This may be the most authentically BIGBANG element of all. Modern K-pop often emphasizes visual uniformity. BIGBANG never really needed that. The group's identity was built around five dramatically different personalities. Now there are three. “BiiiG” doesn't try to disguise that change. Instead, it makes the trio's differences part of the concept. That is much more interesting than pretending nothing changed. 3. Fashion Risk — ABSOLUTELY BIGBANG helped normalize the idea that male K-pop idols could experiment aggressively with fashion. “BiiiG” keeps that tradition alive. The styling isn't simply “luxury fashion.” It's fashion with personality. And that is a huge difference. 4. Big Chorus, Big Performance — YES The production is built around a powerful beat and repetitive hook, giving the song the kind of immediate crowd energy that BIGBANG songs have historically thrived on. You can practically see the future concert version already: Lights. Lasers. Thousands of Bangbongs. And 20,000 people yelling: “BIG BIG BIG BIG!” That is not subtle. Nor should it be. But There's One Major Difference From Old-School BIGBANG The biggest difference isn't the clothes. It isn't the production. It isn't even the missing members. It's maturity. The BIGBANG of 2015 could walk into a music video like they owned the entire industry. The BIGBANG of 2026 doesn't need to prove it. That's the difference between being hot and being legendary. “BiiiG” feels less like a group trying to establish dominance and more like three artists who understand exactly what their name means after twenty years. A contemporary review made essentially the same observation: the MV doesn't desperately attempt to recreate the past or convince viewers that BIGBANG is still the exact same group they were in their earlier years. And that's why the nostalgia works. The Most BIGBANG Thing About “BiiiG” Is That It Isn't Nostalgia This might sound contradictory, but hear us out. A weaker 20th-anniversary comeback would have been: “Remember 2015? Here's another ‘Bang Bang Bang.’” “BiiiG” doesn't do that. Instead, it takes the DNA of old BIGBANG and mutates it. The colors are familiar. The swagger is familiar. The fashion experimentation is familiar. The weirdness is familiar. The hip-hop foundation is familiar. But the execution belongs to 2026. That's exactly what a 20th-anniversary comeback should be. And Then There's That Ending… One of the details already getting fans talking is the video's final imagery involving the lights coming together. Some V.I.Ps are already interpreting the sequence as potentially symbolic rather than merely decorative. Is it intentional? Too early to say. But BIGBANG fans have spent years turning music-video details into theories, so naturally the detective work has already begun. And honestly, if that ending is teasing something bigger—another song, more music or a larger anniversary project—it would fit the rollout perfectly. For now, though, it's speculation rather than confirmed information. The Only Real Complaint? “BiiiG” Ends Too Soon At roughly 2:40, “BiiiG” isn't exactly a sprawling BIGBANG epic. And some fans aren't thrilled about that. Early reactions have praised the track and MV while repeatedly mentioning the song's short runtime and wishing Taeyang or Daesung had more material, particularly an expanded ending or vocal outro. Others have embraced the shorter, punchier format. That's probably the biggest weakness of the comeback. You get into the groove… And then it's over. Excuse me, BIGBANG? We waited four years. Give us another verse! Final Verdict: 9/10 — BIGBANG Didn't Recreate the Past. They Reclaimed It. “BiiiG” works because it understands something many anniversary comebacks don't: You can't go home again—but you can bring the house with you. The music video feels colorful, strange, fashionable, energetic, and deliberately chaotic. The song brings back BIGBANG's hip-hop swagger without sounding like a carbon copy of their greatest hits. The outfits embrace the group's long history of fashion experimentation. And most importantly, G-Dragon, Taeyang and Daesung look comfortable being BIGBANG in 2026. Not 2012 BIGBANG. Not 2015 BIGBANG. Not “Still Life” BIGBANG. 2026 BIGBANG. And that's the real victory of “BiiiG.” Twenty years later, the group doesn't need to shout that they're still relevant. They just walk into the room, turn the lights on, throw every color imaginable at the walls, hit the beat and remind everybody: BIGBANG is still BIG. And if “BiiiG” is only the opening chapter of the 20th-anniversary era, V.I.Ps might want to buckle up. The “XX : COSMOS” world tour begins in Goyang on August 21–23, meaning the new song is about to move from YouTube screens to a massive live stage. The tour is scheduled to span 19 cities and 33 shows. Twenty years in—and the kings clearly aren't done making noise yet. Did we cover everything? Let us know what you thought about BigBang's highly-anticipated comeback! #BIGBANGisBACK #BiiiG

you did not already know, "XG" stands for "Xtraordinary girls", and this J-pop band is based in South Korea

CORTIS's "REDRED" screenshot (HYBE) Climbing to number 3 on South Korea's Circle Music Chart, "REDRED

Korea-Philippine joint idol group Hori7on is making a comeback after eight months!

NewJeans will be performing from South Korea and will be broadcast to ABC Networks!

Perilla, shisho, or sesame leaf is a trending question in Korea: “If your friend sees that your girlfriend Apparently, these kinds of actions are usually very intimate or close in Korea, so they prefer to avoid Here are some of ARMY's reactions on Twitter: Via Twitter @agustdidas. Via Twitter @KTH_Facts.

international basis for example their single with Norwegian star Peder Elias, who has since found fame in Korea

great comeback for the band, and lead to bigger opportunities, however, the entertainment market in Korea

NCT - https://www.nme.com/ NCT is one of K-pop's most beloved groups, which has helped to put Korea and

HYBE has launched a new girl-group label with a very different strategy. At the center is Master Professional Han Sung-soo, whose holistic oversight of music, concepts and performance could make ABD one of the company’s most important girl-group experiments yet. HYBE already knows how to create successful girl groups. But with its newest label, ABD (A Bold Dream), the company appears to be trying something different. Rather than simply debuting another group under its enormous multi-label umbrella, HYBE has created a specialized girl-group production system designed to bring dedicated creative teams together under experienced artistic leadership. And at the center of that strategy is Master Professional Han Sung-soo. For K-pop fans familiar with his career, his involvement immediately makes ABD worth watching. Han has been involved in the development of major artists including SEVENTEEN, After School, IZ*ONE, and TWS. ABD's first girl group, TUIDE, performing their debut track "SUN KISS" during their debut showcase in Seoul (NEWS1) Now, his attention is turning toward ABD's first girl group, TUIDE. The bigger question isn't simply whether TUIDE can become a hit. It's whether ABD can establish a completely new blueprint for how HYBE builds girl groups. What Is ABD—and Why Did HYBE Create It? ABD stands for “A Bold Dream,” reflecting the label's philosophy of thinking beyond the obvious path. The concept is built around imagining something different rather than automatically following an expected sequence. That idea is especially fitting for a label entering an already crowded K-pop market. ABD debuting its first girl group TUIDE (ABD/HYBE) ABD was established as a girl-group-specialized label, giving it a more focused purpose within HYBE's multi-label structure. Instead of treating girl-group development as one part of a larger label's responsibilities, ABD can concentrate its resources and expertise on female artists. That means everything from artist development and music production to concepts, choreography and branding can be developed with girl groups specifically in mind. And that could be a major advantage. Han Sung-soo Is Taking a Big-Picture Approach Former founder of PLEDIS Entertainment, Han Sung-soo, serves as the Executive Producer for TUIDE (PLEDIS Entertainment) The most interesting part of ABD's structure may be Han Sung-soo's role. Rather than simply producing songs, Han is overseeing the overall production of TUIDE, including music, concept, and performance. That holistic approach is important because a K-pop group's identity doesn't come from a single song. The music needs to fit the concept. The concept needs to suit the members. The choreography needs to amplify the music. And the entire package needs to create something fans can immediately recognize. In other words, ABD isn't just looking for a hit song. It's looking to build an artist identity. Han's experience gives the label someone capable of looking at that identity from the top down while specialized creators handle individual areas. ABD's Secret Weapon: Specialized Creative Teams This doesn't mean Han is doing everything himself. Quite the opposite. ABD's system combines dedicated creative professionals with Han's overarching production direction. That creates a structure where different experts can focus on what they do best while still working toward one unified artistic vision. It's an important distinction. A modern K-pop comeback can involve dozens of people: producers, songwriters, choreographers, stylists, visual directors, photographers, A&R professionals and marketing teams. Without a strong central identity, all those pieces can sometimes feel disconnected. ABD appears to be trying to solve that problem by keeping the group's overall artistic direction tightly connected. And TUIDE is the first major test of whether that strategy actually works. TUIDE Is the First Test of the ABD Formula TUIDE officially debuted in August 2026 with its first EP, TUNE & PLAY, and title track “SUN KISS.” The seven-member group—Seohee, Seoyeon, Elena, Jia, Saki, Seah and Yi Hani—is effectively the first showcase for everything ABD says it wants to accomplish. Even the group's name, derived from “Tune the tide,” fits the label's philosophy. The idea is to bring different currents together and create something new. That mirrors the way TUIDE is being presented: individual personalities and strengths coming together without necessarily losing their individuality. For a rookie girl group, that's a potentially powerful approach. The members need to function as a team while still giving fans individual reasons to connect with them. TUIDE's Music Is Designed to Stand Out Musically, TUIDE is being introduced with a sound described as “soultronic,” combining elements of soul, electronic music and R&B. That gives the group an immediate opportunity to carve out a distinct identity. The debut title track “SUN KISS” also carries a message about trusting one's own voice rather than simply following other people's expectations. And with over 11 million views on YouTube, a little over a week after their debut, it's hard to argue with the results. It's a theme that feels almost tailor-made for ABD. The label's philosophy is about taking an unexpected path. TUIDE's music is about trusting your own direction. Even the group's name suggests changing the current. Whether that becomes a lasting identity remains to be seen, but the pieces are clearly designed to fit together. Why ABD Could Become HYBE's Next Girl-Group Powerhouse Here's where things get bigger than TUIDE. HYBE already operates multiple labels and has experience developing major female acts. So why create another label? Because ABD could eventually become something more valuable than simply another home for one successful group. It could become a specialized pipeline for girl-group development. Imagine a label where the entire infrastructure—from A&R and artist development to choreography, visual direction and branding—is built around creating distinctive girl groups. That's the potential advantage of specialization. And HYBE can provide something smaller agencies often can't: global distribution, marketing infrastructure, technology, industry connections and international reach. If ABD can combine those resources with genuine creative independence, the label could have a serious competitive advantage. But Can ABD Avoid the “HYBE Formula”? There is one major challenge. HYBE groups inevitably get compared with one another. Fans will ask whether ABD's artists genuinely feel different or whether they simply represent another variation of the familiar HYBE approach. That makes TUIDE's identity particularly important. ABD needs to prove that its specialized system can create something recognizable without becoming repetitive. Han Sung-soo's previous successes will also create expectations. Fans aren't just going to watch what he produces. They're going to watch how he evolves. Can his experience help TUIDE establish a new identity rather than simply recreating elements that worked for previous groups? That's one of the most fascinating questions surrounding ABD. And we at Dojeon Media can't wait to see what their future brings! The Real ABD Experiment Has Just Begun TUIDE isn't merely another rookie girl group. They're the first major proof of concept for ABD. The label is betting that specialized teams, experienced creative leadership and HYBE's global infrastructure can create a more cohesive way of developing girl-group artists. At the heart of it all is Han Sung-soo's holistic oversight of music, concept and performance. If TUIDE succeeds, ABD could quickly become much more than a new name inside HYBE's multi-label system. It could become a genuine girl-group powerhouse with its own production philosophy and creative identity. And that's what makes ABD so interesting. The company isn't simply asking: “How do we create another successful girl group?” It's asking something much bigger: “How do we build a system capable of creating the next generation of them?” TUIDE is the first answer. Now K-pop gets to decide whether it's the right one. What do you think about TUIDE's debut? Comment below! #ABD #TUIDE

Starting in Seoul, South Korea on May 2 - 4, 2024 "The Dream Show 3" tour will then take place in Osaka