Kpop Queens Take Over August 2025: TWICE, IVE & More Make Global Waves

Top 7 Entertainment News Stories of 1st Week of Aug 2025 (IVE, TWICE, NMIXX, i-dle, KPOPPED, B2P) The first week of August 2025 brought a wave of Kpop and entertainment news that shocked, delighted, and inspired fans around the world. From TWICE making historic waves at a major U.S. festival, to the sudden news of Purple Kiss ending group activities, and Kpop idols reaching new heights in global collaboration and recognition, this week showcased both the bright and challenging sides of the industry. Let’s dive into the top 7 most-talked-about stories that shaped the entertainment scene in early August. — TWICE Makes History at Lollapalooza Chicago TWICE became the first Kpop girl group to headline the renowned Lollapalooza Chicago music festival. With a stunning live performance and surprise collaborations, the group elevated their global reputation to new levels. During their headline performance, TWICE’s members Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung performed “Takedown,” a track featured on the soundtrack of the hit Netflix animated film “KPop Demon Hunters.” But what truly stole the show was a surprise drone display presented by Netflix, where synchronized drones lit up the sky to form visuals from the film—including the phrase “The Honmoon is sealed” (혼문은 봉인되었다).* Fans erupted in cheers, creating an unforgettable moment in Kpop history. Meanwhile, “Golden,” the main OST from the film, continues to hold the #2 position on the Billboard Hot 100 for two straight weeks—a record-setting trend for a Korean OST. Furthermore, TWICE’s own track “Takedown” ranked high on the U.S. Apple Music Daily Top Songs chart, making them the third Kpop group in history to achieve this. — IVE Tops Japanese Charts with 'Be Alright' IVE’s influence in Japan shows no signs of slowing down. Their third Japanese album, “Be Alright,” has taken over major charts, including Oricon’s Weekly Combined Album Rankings (which includes streaming data) and the Weekly Album Rankings (based solely on physical sales). This makes “Be Alright” their most successful Japanese release yet. The group also secured top spots on Billboard Japan’s Top Album Sales and took #1 on Tower Records’ All-Store General Album rankings. Their music and presence continue to captivate Japanese fans. On top of this, IVE’s Korean comeback is in full swing with the upcoming release of their 4th mini-album ‘IVE SECRET,’ scheduled for August 25. Their creative promotions, including a dedicated Instagram account for the release, are adding to the anticipation for the title track “XOXZ.” — Kpop Idols Shine on MLB Stages Kpop is not only influencing pop culture—you’ll now find idols taking center stage in America’s favorite pastime: baseball. Recently, girl groups NMIXX and (G)I-DLE participated in Major League Baseball (MLB) events in the U.S., creating massive buzz. NMIXX performed the U.S. national anthem at a game between the Oakland Athletics and Arizona Diamondbacks, with Lily earning praise for her powerful vocals and Sullyoon throwing a striking ceremonial first pitch. (G)I-DLE brought excitement to the Korean Heritage Night hosted by the LA Angels, with Yuqi participating in the ceremonial pitch and a group performance energizing the crowd. These appearances showcased how Kpop groups are becoming cultural ambassadors in the U.S. — KPOPPED: New Global Kpop Survival Show A new Kpop-themed survival competition is coming to Apple TV, and it’s unlike anything the world has seen. “KPOPPED,” premiering on August 29, features Kpop groups teaming up with Western pop legends in a first-of-its-kind global stage competition. Here’s a quick look at some of the dazzling teams: - ATEEZ x J Balvin (Colombia) x Kylie Minogue - ITZY x Spice Girls (UK’s legendary girl group) - KISS OF LIFE x Ava Max x Jess Glynne - STAYC x TLC x Boy George - JO1 x Kesha x Eve - Black Swan x Boyz II Men - Kep1er x Vanilla Ice x Taylor Dayne - billlie x Megan Thee Stallion x Patti LaBelle The show’s concept of cross-cultural collaboration is a groundbreaking move showcasing how Kpop is bridging nations and music genres on a global level. — Chaos at Baseball Stadium Caused by B2P Fans A rather disturbing scene was reported during Mnet’s ‘BOYS II PLANET’ (B2P) team’s performance at a baseball stadium. While the group was scheduled to perform their signal song “Hola Solar” during the stadium cleaning time, chaos broke out due to disorderly fans. Fans entered the arena unauthorized as early as 6 hours before the game, stormed barricades, and even assaulted staff to get closer to the members. Some reportedly bit security personnel, stole seats from other attendees, and turned seating areas into garbage heaps. Such unruly behavior not only embarrassed the fandom but also risked future appearances of idols at public events like sports games. It’s a sobering reminder that respectful fan conduct is essential to sustaining such opportunities. — Bada's Apology Over False Advertising Controversy Bada, of legendary girl group S.E.S., publicly apologized after being involved in a false advertising scandal regarding a makeup product she endorsed. She introduced the item on a beauty channel, calling it a popular Australian product. However, suspicions arose when it was discovered that the product was neither commonly sold in Australia nor had a functioning headquarters there. Bada’s agency explained that she simply followed a prepared script and had no inside information about the product. Still, they acknowledged responsibility and expressed remorse for not verifying the product thoroughly. Bada herself vowed to be more cautious moving forward and mentioned that legal action against the product company is being reviewed. — Purple Kiss to End Group Activities Purple Kiss, known for their dark and concept-driven themes such as zombies (좀비),** psychos (사이코),** and witches (마녀),** announced the end of group activities this November, after more than four years together. Their agency, RBW, explained that the decision came after extensive discussions and mutual agreement. While fans were shocked by the sudden announcement—especially as the group had recently released the single “Doremi” and had a tour planned—RBW confirmed that all remaining promotional activities would proceed. These include an English album at the end of August, Japanese promotions, a U.S. tour, and a Korean concert. Although the breakup is bittersweet, the group hopes to cherish their remaining time with fans. — Summary and Looking Ahead The first week of August 2025 offered a rollercoaster of emotions across the Kpop and entertainment world. From trailblazing moments like TWICE’s Lollapalooza headline and IVE’s Japanese dominance, to sobering reminders regarding fan behavior and corporate accountability, this week highlighted the full spectrum of what it means to be part of the Kpop landscape today. With the rest of August unfolding, fans can expect more comebacks, international performances, and possibly more surprises from the ever-expanding world of Korean entertainment. Stay tuned for what’s next. Thanks for reading! — *“혼문은 봉인되었다” (The Honmoon is sealed): a fictional concept likely derived from the Netflix animated film referenced in TWICE’s performance. **Zombie (좀비), Psycho (사이코), Witch (마녀): Korean words used in Purple Kiss’s past concepts reflecting their theatrical and horror-inspired themes.