K-pop August Buzz: BLACKPINK’s Comeback, NewJeans Court Drama & IVE Controversy

Top 7 Entertainment News Stories of 2nd Week of August 2025 (Featuring IVE, NewJeans, ZEROBASEONE, G-Dragon, I-DLE, BLACKPINK & More) The second week of August brought with it a whirlwind of major headlines in the world of K-pop and Korean entertainment. From court battles and album comebacks to international acclaim and cultural misunderstandings, this week was packed with stories that had fans buzzing across the globe. Below, we break down the 7 biggest stories that rocked the fandom. --- 🟣 BLACKPINK’s Long-Awaited Album is Coming Soon Three years after the release of 'BORN PINK' in September 2022, BLACKPINK is finally returning with brand-new music. After teasing fans with the digital single “Jump” during their world tour, sources from the music industry reveal that the group is preparing to drop a mini album in November 2025. While YG Entertainment has kept official details minimal, insiders claim that jacket photos are already complete and the group is now finalizing album recordings. Fans have expressed their excitement mixed with some disappointment over the long hiatus, but this news seems to have reignited hope. BLACKPINK is currently on their multi-continent world tour, performing over 31 shows across Korea, the U.S., Europe, and Japan, continuing into early 2026. --- 🟣 ZB1's Activity Extension – Will They Follow Kep1er’s Path? ZEROBASEONE (ZB1), the boy group formed from Mnet’s survival program 'BOYS PLANET', was originally set to disband in January 2026. However, rumors about an extension surfaced this week, with reports claiming that some agencies and members have already agreed to continue beyond their contracted period. Although their managing agency was quick to state that "no final agreement has been made," fans believe the rumors hold weight, especially since they came from the same journalist who first reported Kep1er's successful contract extension. There is concern, though, that not all nine members may re-sign together, potentially leaving ZB1 with a changed lineup or ending entirely. Meanwhile, ZB1’s first full-length album, “NEVER SAY NEVER,” is releasing on September 1 and fans are eager to see how this comeback influences their future. --- 🟣 Cultural Controversy Arises Around IVE’s Comeback Trailer What was supposed to be just another exciting teaser for IVE’s comeback turned contentious among some Japanese viewers. IVE released a trailer for their upcoming project “IVE SECRET” on August 8, just a day before the 80th anniversary of the Nagasaki bombing. In the trailer, origami cranes—widely seen in Japan as a peace symbol in remembrance of the bombing—were shown burning. Adding fuel to the fire, IVE's Japanese member Rei wore a shirt with "I'm Sorry" printed on it. Some viewers interpreted this as an intentional mockery. However, Korean fans argue this is a major cultural misunderstanding. In Korea, a thousand paper cranes (천 마리 종이학) are known to symbolize romantic wishes, not peace. Within the context of the trailer, the paper cranes represent the deterioration of love, with the Cupid character darkening. The seemingly controversial elements are part of that artistic narrative. Fans are highly anticipating the August 25 comeback, especially with members Wonyoung and Liz contributing lyrics to the tracks. --- 🟣 G-Dragon & YG Face Copyright Accusation — Explained GD (G-Dragon) found himself unexpectedly involved in a copyright controversy when a composer accused YG Entertainment of using his song “G-DRAGON” without proper credit or royalties—specifically in GD’s 2009 concert album. However, a closer examination by the Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA) revealed that it was not an infringement as GD was not listed as a copyright holder and didn’t receive royalties. YG clarified that the confusion came because two different songs shared the title “G-DRAGON.” GD had performed a medley of both songs and to avoid confusion, YG used the first lyric of the composer’s song—“My Age is 13”—as the setlist title. While there may still be some debate over moral rights, it appears GD himself had no involvement in the setlist creation. For now, all signs point towards this being an unfortunate misunderstanding rather than malicious copyright theft. --- 🟣 Minnie of (G)I-DLE to Make Movie Debut in Thai Remake of “50 First Dates” Minnie (민니), the talented Thai member of (G)I-DLE, is stepping into the movie world. She has been cast as the female lead in the Thai remake of the American romantic comedy film "50 First Dates." Known for her cheerful character in the Netflix sitcom “So Not Worth It,” Minnie’s charming on-screen presence is highly anticipated. The original film starred Drew Barrymore, portraying a woman with short-term memory loss and a man who must make her fall in love with him every day. Minnie will star alongside Thai actor-model Nadech Kugimiya. This opportunity further highlights (G)I-DLE’s global reach. Meanwhile, Yuqi (우기) is preparing for a solo comeback in September, and the group is gearing up for their Japanese album and arena tour in October. --- --- 🟣 NewJeans Appears in Court for Ongoing Contract Dispute NewJeans members Minji (민지) and Danielle (다니엘) publicly appeared in court on August 14 for the ongoing dispute between the girl group and their agency, ADOR, a sub-label under HYBE. The legal battle has become one of the most closely watched stories in K-pop right now. Despite undergoing a 1-hour and 20-minute mediation session led by the judge, both parties failed to reach an agreement. Minji and Danielle kept silent when questioned by reporters, only stating: “We are sorry.” A second mediation session has been scheduled for September 11. Should both parties fail to reach a resolution then, a formal court verdict will be issued on October 30. Previously, ADOR won a preliminary injunction to restrict independent activities by the members. Fans remain uncertain over how the court might rule in what many see as a landmark contract dispute in the modern K-pop industry. --- 🟣 ‘Golden’ Becomes First Female-Vocal K-pop Song to Top Billboard Hot 100 Big news internationally! The OST “Golden” from the animated Netflix film "KPop Demon Hunters" has climbed to the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first ever by female lead vocalists in K-pop to do so. The song, performed by Korean-American artist Lee Jae—a former trainee under SM—and composed with a powerful female voice in mind, was initially intended with her only as a guide vocalist. But her voice became the perfect match for the film’s character, Rumi, and the rest is now chart-topping history! “Golden” also topped the UK Official Singles Chart, achieving a feat not seen since PSY’s “Gangnam Style.” Netflix has even submitted “Golden” for Best Original Song at the 2026 Academy Awards, potentially making Lee Jae the first Korean-American to win the award in that category. --- Conclusion From blossoming film careers and uncertain future contracts to Billboard breakthroughs and misunderstood imagery, the K-pop and Korean entertainment scene continues to captivate fans globally. Each of these stories highlights the diversity and complexity of what it means to be an idol or performer in today’s landscape. With BLACKPINK gearing up for a November album, ZB1 possibly extending activities, and NewJeans’ legal fate still undecided, there’s no shortage of drama—and inspiration. Be sure to stay tuned for more updates in the coming weeks. Got thoughts about this week’s news? Drop your comments below—and don’t forget to keep checking back for the hottest entertainment updates in K-pop! 👇 Share, Subscribe, and Stay Tuned!