Weekly K-pop News – 3rd Week of August 2025
By Nomad's Dream | August 23, 2025
It was the third week of August, and a heatwave swept in. According to the seasonal calendar, Chuseo ("summer") has passed, which means the mornings and evenings should start to feel cooler, but Korea remains scorching hot.
The K-pop market, too, is heating up as we move into the second half of the year. With many well-known groups expected to make their comebacks in late 2025, this year is shaping up to be truly intense.
Everyone is curious about the Rookie of the Year, but there are still four months left before the Song of the Year is decided. What kind of music will delight our eyes and ears next?
This week, the third week of August, there’s a lot of K-pop news. Let’s briefly take a look at some of them.
4th Generation Girl Group Kep1er Releases 7th Mini Album BUBBLE GUM
The first piece of news is about 4th generation girl group Kep1er, who released their 7th mini album, BUBBLE GUM.
Kep1er is a project girl group formed in 2021 through Mnet’s audition program Girls Planet 999.
With their debut single WA DA DA, they achieved a phenomenal hit and rewrote the history of project girl groups. Now, in 2025, Kep1er has reached their 5th year of activities.
In 2024, there was much talk about activity suspensions and even disbandment due to member changes. However, defying those concerns, Kep1er actively promoted with the release of both a full-length album and an EP.
Their new album comes nine months after their last release in November of last year. While some fans worried that Kep1er’s unique color had faded and that it was time to seek a new direction, the group made a confident comeback with an album full of unexpected charm.
The title track Bubble Gum is a house-based pop dance song. The all-black hair, makeup, and styling highlight a more mature side of the group, and fans are welcoming it as a refreshing and impactful change.
"You thought they were disbanding? Nope— they came back stronger!"
One fan’s comment perfectly captures the sentiment around Kep1er’s 7th mini album.
4th Generation Girl Group Secret Number Releases New Single Don’t Touch
The second piece of news is about 4th generation girl group Secret Number, who have released their new single Don’t Touch.
Secret Number is a 4th generation girl group that debuted in 2020 under Vine Entertainment. As idols from a smaller agency, they have remained relatively unknown in Korea, but because of their multinational lineup, they’ve gained stronger recognition overseas.
Up until now, Secret Number had been active as a six-member group. Earlier this year, however, four members left, leading many to speculate that they were essentially disbanding. But with the addition of four new members, the group has been able to continue its activities.
Their last single was released back in 2023, meaning it’s been a full two years since their most recent music release. This is their first single with the new lineup, and the title track Don’t Touch is being praised as the perfect song to mark a fresh start.
With its synth-bass driven, stylish K-pop sound, Don’t Touch brings back the kind of quintessential K-pop track that fans have been waiting for.
In many ways, this new single feels like a re-debut for Secret Number. The question now is—will they be able to capture the hearts of both domestic and international fans once again?
Boy Group CORTIS Releases Debut Album What You Want
The third piece of news is about boy group CORTIS, who have released their debut album What You Want.
CORTIS is a boy group that debuted under BigHit Music. Up until now, TXT had been known as BTS’s younger “sibling group” and the youngest in the label’s lineup, but with CORTIS’s debut, that title has now been passed on.
Unlike girl groups, it’s not easy for boy groups to debut every 4–5 years. The fact that BigHit Music launched a new boy group with a clear aim at the global K-pop market shows just how much confidence the company has in presenting them.
CORTIS is a five-member group, mainly composed of Korean teens. Among them, Martin holds dual nationality, while James is from Hong Kong. Their overall visuals are truly outstanding.
Even more impressive is their music. While the released single serves as their debut track, CORTIS will officially mark their debut on September 8 with the release of a full album. The album is set to include six tracks, and judging from the pre-released songs, it promises to be filled with equally captivating music.
It’s been revealed that all the members of CORTIS participated in writing and composing the songs. For rookies, this level of involvement is unusual, but it seems BigHit made a deliberate effort to reflect the individuality of its idols.
Because of these qualities, CORTIS has already been creating a buzz as a “major rookie” even before their official debut, shaking up both charts and live stages.
Although they’ve only just debuted and it’s too soon to judge, one can’t help but wonder: why does their energy evoke not just freshness, but also the personality and nostalgia of ’90s idols?
CORTIS’s debut feels like the arrival of a powerful new wave.
Boy Group Stray Kids Releases 4th Full-Length Album KARMA
The fourth piece of news is about boy group Stray Kids, who have released their 4th studio album KARMA.
During a business meeting at a fashion company, the CEO once told me that Stray Kids’ influence is tremendous.
He explained that simply “wearing their merchandise” caused even excess inventory to sell out within just a few days. This made me realize that Stray Kids’ impact is far greater than most people imagine.
Stray Kids is JYP’s flagship boy group. Typically, when an idol group surpasses seven years of activity, members focus more on solo projects than group activities. However, Stray Kids has consistently released albums while maintaining full-group activities.
After releasing a full-length album in 2023 and an EP in 2024, Stray Kids returned with another full-length album just a year later. Their new title track features a funky rhythm and a powerful, energetic beat that really stands out.
In the global K-pop scene, Stray Kids has become almost synonymous with success. Their commercial performance and influence are virtually guaranteed. They became the third K-pop idol group in history to reach 20 million YouTube subscribers.
Stray Kids is a group you can trust to watch and listen to. Their Walt Tour achievements alone could fill an entire post, so it’s enough to say that fans are captivated by the intensity of the title track CEREMONY. We welcome both their full-length album and their comeback.
Boy Group Teen Top Releases 15th Anniversary Album Just 15, Just Teen Top
The fifth piece of news is about boy group Teen Top, who have released their 15th anniversary commemorative album Just 15, Just Teen Top.
Teen Top is a boy group that debuted in 2010 under TOP Media. Amid the wave of 2nd generation idols, Teen Top firmly established themselves as a standout boy group, largely thanks to their exceptional synchronized choreography and stage performances.
Most of Teen Top’s songs were club-style dance tracks, but they successfully built a unique image that appealed to fans by delivering high-teen, visually engaging performances.
With hits like I’ll Be Back, Miss Right, To You, and Don’t Spray Perfume, Teen Top has consistently released strong songs. This year, they celebrate their 15th anniversary since debut.
The new album is a special release to commemorate Teen Top’s 15th anniversary. While anniversary albums often aim for extravagance, Teen Top opted for a simpler, more understated approach with this milestone release.
The title track, Cherry Pie, is a K-pop dance song highlighted by a synth-bass-driven guitar riff, and their signature synchronized choreography can be seen in the music video.
It’s the perfect balance—not too much, not too little—just a solid K-pop release. That’s Teen Top.
K-pop Briefs – 3rd Week of August
Here are the K-pop briefs for the 3rd week of August.
- Boy group 8TURN has released a single album.
- QUEENZ
I recently went through a period of reorganization, with members leaving and new members joining the group. This is their first album in two years, since 2023, and the overall vibe of the group has become noticeably fresher.
The new album is titled PRISM EP.01. Just as light shines in various colors when it passes through a prism, QUEENZ I is determined to showcase their diverse charms with this release.
- Female soloist Moonbyul has released an EP album.
Moonbyul has released a new EP that includes the singles she has released so far. This marks her fourth mini-album.
The album is titled Laundri, meaning “laundry,” which has been interpreted as her personal method of “emotional cleansing.”
The concept draws a metaphor between the process of love and personal growth with doing laundry. This creative idea is reflected throughout both the songs and the music videos.
What is the recommended temperature for love and laundry? Quite an amusing concept.
Humming Urban Stereo has released a new album.
- Songs like Hawaiian Couple and Springtime Sake are examples, and on this new album, the hottest female soloist right now, CHUU, takes on a feature. At first, it was hard to imagine her voice fitting into house music, but it blends surprisingly well, allowing the song to be enjoyed naturally without any sense of mismatch.
The song is fantastic—another HUS track that deserves to be listened to regularly.
- Red Velvet’s Joy has released her first mini-album.
Red Velvet’s Joy first stepped into the solo scene with her 2021 remake album Hello, but since it was a remake album, it wasn’t considered her official solo debut.
Fans might have expected her solo comeback sooner, but it took four years. Her new release is her first mini-album and marks her official solo debut.
The summer-themed album From Joy, With Love is filled with Joy’s signature refreshing charm, packing six songs that capture the richness and coolness of love.
We can assume Joy herself is still “in love,” and the album’s focus on songs about the love of someone in love makes it even more captivating.
- Legendary female rocker Dowon-kyung has released a new single.
Dowon-kyung. Just her name makes this the 3rd week of August a remarkable one, as she is a living legend of Korean female rockers.
With the release of her new song Love Hunger, Dowon-kyung appeared on music shows, taking the stage for the first time in 10 years and receiving applause from many juniors and fans alike.
Seeing her in a pink dress rather than her usual black leather jacket felt unusual, but Dowon-kyung was unmistakably herself.
While her new single doesn’t feature her signature chic and powerful vocals, her captivating tone remains as strong as ever.
After all, isn’t it the tone of voice that defines a singer? Dowon-kyung’s tone is extraordinary.
4th Generation Girl Group PURPLE KISS to End Group Activities
4th generation girl group PURPLE KISS will be ending their group activities. Their agency, RBW, announced through official channels that the group’s activities will be concluded.
Having reached their 5th year of activity, PURPLE KISS had always been considered one of the promising 4th generation girl groups. However, they were unable to surpass the “7-year wall” typical of girl groups, and now they are preparing to bid farewell to their fans.
The group’s disbandment is scheduled for November. After releasing an English album at the end of August and completing their planned tour, their group activities will officially end. It is reported that the members engaged in long discussions with their agency, and after November, they are expected to focus on individual activities.
Because RBW is a well-known agency, the news of PURPLE KISS ending their activities has come as a significant shock to both fans and the industry.
Where should the story have been untangled? How should the farewell have been handled? Today, there is a lingering sense of regret over their past songs and performances.