Tag: South Korea

K-Pop Artist ENHYPEN Host ‘The Blood Diary,’ a New Video Podcast Series From HYBE

April 5, 2026

Like the immortal lives of vampires, some stories never really end. That’s the vibe K-Pop boyband ENHYPEN brings to The Blood Diary, a new video podcast series that explores mysterious events from around the globe, where members of the group take turns blurring the line between fact and fiction.

Throughout each episode, members of ENHYPEN take turns recounting stories while attempting to uncover the hidden “liar.” Fans (aka ENGENE) are encouraged to follow along, piecing together clues and deciding for themselves which story isn’t what it seems.

Created by HYBE MEDIA STUDIO and brought to fans in partnership with Spotify, The Blood Diary is the first from STAN:A, a new video podcast show that brings fans closer to artists they love through candid conversations and original storytelling.

The first episode of The Blood Diary is out now on Spotify, and new episodes will drop biweekly every Friday at 8PM KST.

To step further inside the mystery, For the Record spoke with the first hosts of The Blood Diary—ENHYPEN’s JUNGWON, JAY, JAKE, and SUNOO—about what it was like to work on the series, the stories they chose to tell, and what fans can expect as the series pulls them into its thrall.

The Blood Diary features you all as immortal vampires sharing mysterious records on the night of a full moon. What was it like stepping into these roles?

JUNGWON: It was cool and fun how each member came ready with a story and shared it. When I was telling my story, I got so immersed that it became a little scary. I hope this vibe comes across well to ENGENE and that they really enjoy it.

JAY: It was a new concept that we had never tried before, but I found myself completely immersed in the story, maybe thanks to the atmosphere on set. Telling a story as a vampire was already fun, but the best part was watching the members suspect each other and trying to find the Blood Liar.

JAKE: I was so happy that we were able to show a new side of ourselves to ENGENE. This vampire concept is something only ENHYPEN can pull off, don’t you think? Combining a concept that only we can handle with storytelling is really going to make for an even more fun video podcast.

SUNOO: Telling stories as a vampire was fun, but it was even more exciting to watch and listen to the other members share theirs. I actually think I got more nervous listening to the other members’ stories than when I was telling my own. I found myself completely absorbed the whole time.

The tagline of the show is “The Mystery Records of Immortal Vampires.” Without giving too much away, what kind of “bizarre events” can fans expect to hear about in your diaries?

JAY: Stories from the past that feel even more fantastical than fantasy, and strange incidents hidden behind everyday life. We’ll be sharing scary stories that are even harder to believe because they actually happened in real life.

A highlight of each episode is the “Blood Liar” game, where one member weaves fiction into their story to deceive the others. Before you went into production, did you already have suspicions on who the best “Blood Liar” would be?

JUNGWON: JAY is pretty good at lying. So if he’s the “Blood Liar,” I think he’ll be very good at deceiving the rest of the members.

JAY: When it comes to “liar,” you’ve got to think of JAKE! He once made plans to meet me, but then totally flaked. That’s when I realized that he really is a liar.

JAKE: We’d never done a concept that involved deceiving each other before, so it was hard to predict. But somehow… I thought that JAY might be the best “Blood Liar.”

SUNOO: Before the shoot, I was trying to guess who it might be… and I had a feeling it would probably be JAY!

Every day on Spotify, we see how audio has the power to move and resonate with people in a deeply personal way. How did the specific sound design and atmosphere of The Blood Diary help you get into character and bring these mysteries to life?

SUNOO: Watching the final edit of the video podcast with all the sound effects, I was completely drawn in by how realistic it felt. Thanks to the sound design, I think ENGENE will experience thrills and feel curious in ways they normally wouldn’t while watching the podcast. I highly recommend that everyone fully dive into The Blood Diary.

**What are your biggest hopes for The Blood Diary?**

JUNGWON: Until now, we’ve mostly appeared on lighthearted, fun variety shows, but with The Blood Diary, we’re looking forward to showing a heavier, more serious side of ENHYPEN that fans haven’t seen before.

Anything else to add about the making of the podcast or reflections you have now that the first episode is out?

JAKE: I filmed a lot with JAY, and I got a huge kick out of seeing him get scared while listening to the stories. It was also really fun preparing a new story for each episode and sharing it directly with the members. I’m also really looking forward to all the different stories the other members will bring in future episodes. I hope ENGENE enjoys it as much as we did.

JAY: Spotify is an essential part of my daily life, so I’m thrilled to be a host for this video podcast! The Blood Diary covers a variety of real-life incidents, so I think viewers will get to experience a more authentic thrill. It’s definitely worth looking forward to.

JUNGWON: I use Spotify all the time, so I’m really happy to be a host for a Spotify video podcast. I hope ENGENE will see many different sides of us through The Blood Diary. Please look forward to it.

SUNOO: When I was filming the episode where I was the “Blood Liar,” I had to deceive the other members, constantly insisting, “It’s true! I’m not lying!” which was really tough. But as I watched the others gradually fall for my story, I started to enjoy it. I’m not sure when the episode where I play the “Blood Liar” will be released, but I hope you all look forward to it!

Check out the first episode of The Blood Diary on Spotify now.

What’s Next for Spotify and NAVER in Korea After a Stockholm Summit

March 25, 2026

Spotify’s partnership with NAVER, Korea’s leading digital platform, is built around one simple goal: making it easier for listeners in Korea to discover and enjoy audio across the apps they already use. This week, our co-CEOs Alex Norström and Gustav Söderström welcomed NAVER CEO Sooyeon Choi to Spotify’s Stockholm headquarters to align on the next phase.

The meeting was a chance to review early progress, exchange perspectives on our respective platforms, and set shared priorities.

“Korea plays a defining role in global music culture, and Spotify sees it as a market where local creativity and global connection intersect powerfully,” said Alex. “Our partnership with NAVER reflects our belief that the most meaningful growth comes from combining global reach with strong local ecosystems.”

Since launching the partnership in November 2025, we’ve brought Spotify into more places across NAVER’s ecosystem, including Maps, Search, and NAVER+ Membership. More recently, we completed the rollout of NAVER single sign-on (SSO) integration, making it easier for users in Korea to access Spotify.

“This meeting reinforced the strong foundation we are building with Spotify and the long-term potential of our partnership in Korea,” said Sooyeon. “By bringing together our respective platforms and capabilities, we are focused on deepening this collaboration for users in Korea to discover and experience music and audio content.”

During the visit, teams from both companies also met to dig into how our platforms connect and where we can work more closely next.

“Strong partnerships are built not just on shared ambition, but on how platforms connect and evolve together,” said Gustav. “This meeting was about leadership alignment, getting clear on priorities, and how our platforms and teams can continue working together in a thoughtful, long-term way.”

BTS and Spotify Bring ‘ARIRANG’ to Top Fans in New York City

March 25, 2026

BTS is so back. This week, the global pop superstars took the stage at New York City’s Pier 17 for their first U.S. performance in four years.

Part of Spotify x BTS: SWIMSIDE, a global series of immersive live events, the night was a celebration of the band’s latest album, ARIRANG. The setlist featured new tracks including “2.0,” “SWIM,” and “NORMAL.” And even though the album has been out for less than a week, the crowd—made up of more than 1,000 of BTS’ top local fans on Spotify—was already singing along.

After the show, the group sat down with Suki Waterhouse for a Q&A, sharing exclusive insights into the making of the album and their return to music.

Check out photos from the night below.

Spotify Launches K-Pop Performance Video Series . . . Next Up, TWS

June 27, 2025

K-Pop remains one of the biggest genres globally, and many fans just can’t get enough of it. That’s why Spotify has launched a new series of K-Pop performance videos that bring listeners even closer to their favorite artists.

From live vocals to choreography, these exclusive showcases offer a fresh, immersive dimension to some of your favorite K-Pop hits. What’s more, the series gives artists an innovative platform for expanding their creative expression and forging deeper connections with their audiences.

The K-Pop performance videos are a vibrant addition to Spotify’s expanding catalog of music videos, available to Premium users across 96 markets. With our existing music video feature, listeners can already seamlessly switch between an audio track and its visual counterpart using the “Switch to video/audio” toggle.

“Performance videos have long been central to fan culture, transforming songs into dynamic artistic expressions that fuel conversation, shape style, and deepen artist-fan connections,” said Jungjoo Park, Head of Music at Spotify, Korea. “In the exciting visual world of K-Pop, they’re essential—offering fans the next best thing to live shows through striking displays of talent and charisma. We’re excited to bring listeners this new series of K-Pop performance videos, and the initiative is truly another testament to how we keep getting better for fans of the genre.”

TWS delivers ‘Freestyle’ performance

Following the successful launch of the series with ENHYPEN’s choreography for “Loose (Korean Ver.),” the spotlight now turns to the highly anticipated next installment, featuring TWS. If you’re a Premium user in one of the markets where our K-Pop performance videos are available, you can witness their magic moves for “Freestyle” here.

These videos offer a compelling glimpse into what fans can anticipate from future choreography showcases within the series. The cinematography—including expert use of camerawork and lighting—sets the stage for the performers to highlight the artistry of dance, empowering them to convey their unique visions for the featured tracks.

Dive into the world of K-Pop performance videos and stay tuned to more from the series on Spotify.

ENHYPEN and Spotify Unleash ‘DESIRE’ With Immersive Pop-up Experiences in Seoul, Tokyo, Jakarta, and LA

June 11, 2025

This summer, Spotify and ENHYPEN invited fans to step inside the world of DESIRE : UNLEASH with MAISON ENHYPEN—a multisensory pop-up experience celebrating the K-Pop group’s sixth mini album. In Seoul, Tokyo, Jakarta, and Los Angeles, ENGENEs immersed themselves in the album’s core themes: passion, romance, and transformation.

Inside MAISON ENHYPEN, fans explored thoughtfully designed interactive zones inspired by tracks from DESIRE : UNLEASH, offering them the chance to experience the energy and emotion of the music firsthand.

The pop-up also featured displays of ENHYPEN’s festival performance outfits and props, hidden Easter eggs revealing glimpses of each member’s personal Spotify playlists, and exclusive merchandise—including postcards with handwritten messages from the members.

Members JUNGWON, HEESEUNG, JAY, JAKE, SUNGHOON, SUNOO, and NI-KI stopped by the Seoul pop-up to experience MAISON ENHYPEN for themselves and host a special press conference. During the event, the group shared insights into their new mini album and how they’re bringing fans into their creative world through the MAISON ENHYPEN experience.

“Our lead single ‘Bad Desire (With or Without You)’ expresses an overpowering desire to turn you into a vampire,” explained SUNOO. “It’s a pop song with a sleek, chic mood. One of the key lines is, ‘A heaven without you must be like hell, but hell where I embrace you must be like heaven.’ Beyond the paradoxical lyrics, the song also reflects our own emotions, our desire to stay connected with ENGENEs.”

Added member HEESEUNG: “We’ve been collaborating with Spotify on a variety of projects. So it’s such an honor and joy to be working with Spotify again for MAISON ENHYPEN in celebration of the release of DESIRE : UNLEASH. I hope many ENGENES enjoy the event!”

JENNIE and Spotify Celebrate the K-Pop Star’s Debut Solo Album With a Special ‘Rubify’ Listening Party

March 6, 2025

K-Pop star JENNIE has cemented herself as a powerhouse solo artist with more than 40 million monthly listeners on Spotify. And on February 27, JENNIE and Spotify welcomed 200 of her dedicated fans into Rubify, a celebration of her debut solo album, Ruby. Held in Seoul ahead of the album’s release, the event brought fans up close and personal with JENNIE as they got an immersive look into her artistic vision.

“This album means everything to me—it’s my story, told through my voice and my vision,” JENNIE said. “Shakespeare’s concept of the seven stages of life really resonated with me, so I wanted to explore those emotions—from innocence and love to power, reflection, and legacy. It felt like the perfect way to introduce myself as a solo artist and show every side of who I am. I was inspired by the play aspect, with the curtains revealing my next step in my career.”

Spotify’s ‘This Is Taylor Swift’ Immersive Experience Connects Swifties Across Asia to Their Favorite Anthem

February 2, 2025

If you’re one of the many Swifties living in Asia, you’re in for a treat. Spotify is bringing the magic of Taylor Swift’s music to Jakarta, Manila, and Seoul with the immersive exhibition “This Is Taylor Swift. A Spotify Playlist Experience.”

Designed as a “love letter” to what it means to be a Taylor Swift fan, the exhibition brings our playlist of the same name to life, with every element reflecting the evolution of Taylor’s artistry—whether reliving her iconic eras, spotting familiar motifs, or taking home a piece of the experience.

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“We’re excited to bring ‘This Is Taylor Swift. A Spotify Playlist Experience’ to Asia. It represents Spotify’s commitment to connecting Asian fans with global superstars like Taylor Swift and creating innovative, interactive experiences that deepen the connection between artists and their fans,” said Gautam Talwar, Spotify General Manager for Asia Pacific. “Swifties are some of the most passionate fans in the world, and this experiential event is a celebration of them—allowing them to connect to each other through their shared love of Taylor.”

Taylor Swift’s impact in Indonesia, the Philippines, and South Korea is undeniable. In addition to being named Spotify’s 2024 Wrapped Global Top Artist for the second year running, with over 26.6 billion streams worldwide, the global icon was also the 2024 Wrapped Top International Artist in all three countries. Here’s what’s in store for attendees.

Witness Taylor’s evolution

Explore a captivating gallery chronicling her 11 musical eras, complete with stunning visuals and fan-favorite tracks that showcase the depth of her artistry.

Take part in a lyrical wonderland

Get immersed in a magical space where Taylor’s iconic lyrics come to life. From heartaches to love stories, celebrate the words and stories that resonate with Swifties everywhere.

Bring home exclusive keepsakes

We’re offering a limited-edition keychain designed for fans to easily access Taylor’s discography on Spotify after the event.

If you live in one of the three featured cities (or just happen to be visiting), check out the exhibition for yourself on the following dates:

Jakarta, Indonesia: February 14-16, 2025
Manila, Philippines: February 21-23, 2025
Seoul, South Korea: February 28-March 2, 2025

And Swifties everywhere can find their favorites anytime on This Is Taylor Swift.

Celebrate 8 Years With BLACKPINK on Spotify

August 1, 2024

It’s been eight years since BLACKPINK captivated the K-Pop scene and transcended to global superstardom. Since then, they’ve racked up billions of streams on Spotify and built a loyal following of BLINKs—the moniker for their fandom.

#8YearswithBLACKPINK

Spotify is commemorating the quartet’s milestone anniversary with a series of surprises on the This Is BLACKPINK playlist under the banner #8YearswithBLACKPINK. From August 1 through August 8, which marks the period of the group’s inception, the playlist will pay daily homage to a different BLACKPINK era.

As listeners experience iconic milestones of members JISOO, JENNIE, ROSÉ, and LISA, some users in Indonesia, South Korea, the Philippines, the U.S., Thailand, Brazil, Australia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Spain, Poland, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, India, and Turkey will be rewarded with special digital social cards that will be revealed daily based on their streaming habits.

“It’s been thrilling to witness the growth of BLACKPINK throughout the years,” said Jungjoo Park, Head of Music Korea, Spotify. “Our #8YearswithBLACKPINK campaign bolsters our commitment to supporting Korean artists in reaching and deepening their connections with listeners worldwide, and we hope fans enjoy the special surprises we have in store for them.”

A record-breaking rise

The proof is in the numbers when looking at BLACKPINK’s rise to stardom. Their Spotify streams tracked an average year-on-year growth of more than 110%, and the group now has more than 13 billion streams on our platform. BLACKPINK tracks have been added to more than 71 million user-generated playlists, and their top five most-streamed songs—“How You Like That,” “Kill This Love,” “Pink Venom,” “DDU-DU DDU-DU,” and “Shut Down”—have collectively garnered more than 4 billion streams.

We mentioned that their music has made waves well beyond Seoul, the city where they got their start. On Spotify, BLACKPINK’s top listening markets include the U.S., Indonesia, Mexico, the Philippines, and Brazil.

Celebrate the group and let Spotify take you on a journey through each of its eras with the This Is BLACKPINK playlist.

RADAR Korea Invites Fans Inside the Vibrant World of RIIZE in Honor of the K-Pop Group’s First Mini Album, ‘RIIZING’

June 26, 2024

Since 2020, RADAR has served as Spotify’s program to spotlight rising talent from around the world, supporting emerging artists on their journeys to global stardom. In South Korea, RADAR has elevated the country’s best and brightest, helping groups like LE SSERAFIM and NMIXX catapult their careers and connect with new fans near and far.

That couldn’t be more true for RIIZE, the newest RADAR Korea artist and the first K-Pop boy group to be part of the program. RIIZE burst onto the scene in 2023 with the catchy pop single “Get A Guitar” and has been steadily climbing the K-Pop ranks ever since.

Since joining RADAR Korea in April, RIIZE has received Spotify support through special editorial placement, a personalized marketing plan, and more. Prominent features on our RADAR Korea playlist and exclusive social media content have helped RIIZE expand its reach and foster deeper connections with listeners. In just two months, the group has seen a more than 40% increase in monthly streams, a 13% boost in monthly listeners, and a 12% increase in user-generated playlists that include at least one RIIZE track.

To date, RIIZE has amassed more than 210 million Spotify streams and currently boasts nearly 4 million monthly listeners. Its music is traveling the globe, transcending language and cultural boundaries as it reaches listeners in Japan, Indonesia, the U.S., and beyond.

Two Years Into Spotify’s Launch in South Korea, the K-Wave Is Here To Stay

February 8, 2023

Album art from spotify milestones in korea over the past year

You’ve probably heard of a little genre called K-Pop, the energetic and highly danceable phenomenon that migrated from South Korea to the world. K-Pop’s success—Korea is the seventh-largest music market on the planet—has not only resulted in a global export of music from the country, but in other pop culture sensations, too. Squid Game and Parasite, anyone?

In the latest episode of Spotify: Discover This, our host Lea Palmieri is joined by Korean Canadian singer-songwriter Junny for a deep dive into the K-Music scene beyond K-Pop. The pair speaks to some of the biggest names in K-Hip-hop, including Tiger JK, Yoon Mirae, Dynamicduo, Jay Park, pH–1, and SINCE. From there, they move into K-R&B, K-Rock, and Original Sound Tracks (OSTs). Also appearing: webtoons, a musical foray into the metaverse, and even Trot. We’ve released the episode in both English and Korean.

The episode arrives just as Spotify marks our second anniversary in Korea; it also features an interview with Spotify Korea Managing Director David Park.

“Spotify is still in its early stage in Korea, which not only is the birthplace of K-Pop, but also the hub of rich cultural contents with global impact,” says David. “We’ll continue to pave the way by connecting more Korean artists, music, creators, contents, and culture with more listeners worldwide.”

And Spotify has had plenty to celebrate from Korea over the past two years. From K-Pop On! Track and our Korean hip-hop playlist KrOWN, as well as the addition of podcasts, there’s a bit of K-Culture for everyone. Take a look.

Listen to the K-Wave episode of Spotify: Discover This in Korean here.

K-pop Quintet NewJeans Commands Attention as Spotify’s EQUAL Ambassador of the Month

February 3, 2023

Jeans have been a beloved wardrobe staple for generations—something that rising K-pop group NewJeans knew all too well when adopting their name. The group set out to create crowd-pleasing songs that you can’t help but keep on your playlists and put on daily. They’re off to a rocking start: With their August 2022 debut of three singles, including “Attention,” they charted on Spotify’s Weekly Top Songs U.S. chart, a first for any newly debuted K-pop group.

Composed of MINJI, HANNI, DANIELLE, HAERIN, and HYEIN, all singers who hail from Korea and beyond, NewJeans is the first release from ADOR, an independent label under HYBE led by MIN HEE JIN. Creating authentic music that radiates a youthful spirit, the group aspires to push the boundaries of the K-pop scene. (You can hear more from them in K-Pop ON! Track.)

In January, NewJeans joined Spotify’s EQUAL Global Music Program as our ambassador of the month. EQUAL aims to combat gender disparity in the music industry by amplifying and celebrating the work of women creators around the world. NewJeans’ music was featured heavily on the EQUAL Global playlist throughout the month.

The newcomers were humbled by the love and support they received worldwide following their first EP, New Jeans. In OMG, NewJeans’ very first winter release, they tackle relationships, attraction, and devotion in a deeper way.

For the Record asked the EQUAL artist to fill in the blanks and learn more about their creative process and inspirations.

The artists who have most inspired me are _____.

There’s no particular artist that I can pick, since I want to get a lot of inspiration and learn from all the artists. (해린 HAERIN)

One piece of advice I’d give other women artists is _____ .

Always face yourself and be proud of yourself!! (민지 MINJI)

One notable moment in my career so far is _____ .

Our debut! (혜인 HYEIN)

My creative process consists of _____ .

Inspiration, forming ideas and visualizing them, then through trial and error building the pieces to create what I want!! (다니엘 DANIELLE)

My girl-power anthem is _____ .

Would probably be most of the Little Mix songs!! But if I had to choose, “Hair” by Little Mix!! (하니 HANNI)

Discover more women artists climbing the charts with our EQUAL Global playlist.

Watch 6 Iconic Korean Hip-Hop Artists Explain How the Genre Has Captured the Hearts of Fans Around the World

December 13, 2022

In South Korea, hip-hop has not only evolved into an essential part of the music scene, but also a big part of the country’s pop culture. While K-Pop has been taking over the world, Korean hip-hop has also started to gain international popularity, with K-hip-hop artists expanding their presence in the global market. With the growing interest from fans and listeners worldwide, Spotify launched KrOWN in September of this year, our official global Korean hip-hop playlist (formerly known as K-Hip-Hop +82). KrOWN serves as a bridge between K-hip-hop and music fans around the world, ultimately elevating Korean hip-hop artists and culture.

To dive further into the genre, uncover what makes K-hip-hop unique to the world, and explore the music’s roots, Spotify sat down with some of the most iconic artists in the scene.

Meet some of the key players who have propelled the growth of K-hip-hop:

Tiger JK: The history of hip-hop in South Korea is generally considered to have begun in the 1990s with iconic figures like Tiger JK helping the genre become mainstream. Often referred to as the godfather of K-hip-hop, the rapper was also a founding member of the group Drunken Tiger. “Back then, every day was like war, and finding a place to perform was almost impossible. But it was so much fun,” Tiger JK recalls. “And the best trophy for us at the time was having three or four fans walk up to us in the subway and share which lyrics and rhymes they liked about our song.”
Yoon Mirae: Yoon debuted in 1997 and is recognized as an icon in Korea. She runs the record label Feel Ghood Music with her husband, Tiger JK. “If you are a fan of hip-hop, you can’t help but be a fan of K-hip-hop,” she says. “A lot of artists in Korea are just really that good, and a lot of MCs—especially people like Tiger JK—stay grounded to their roots and want to show their love and appreciation for the Korean culture we came from… I think people recognize that.”

Dynamicduo (consisting of CHOIZA and Gaeko): The K-hip-hop scene began to coalesce further in the 2000s, as the genre’s top artists continuously challenged themselves to bring the sound forward. In 2006, the iconic group Dynamicduo established hip-hop record label Amoeba Culture, which has since become a home to various prominent artists.

Jay Park: Fast-forward to the present, and Jay Park—rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and entrepreneur—believes the overall popularity of Korean culture around the world has benefitted K-hip-hop as well. Having started his career in the K-Pop entertainment business, Jay Park is now a renowned multifaceted talent and one of the most streamed Korean hip-hop artists worldwide.

The Quiett: The Quiett holds a strong presence in South Korea’s hip-hop scene with over two decades of experience in the space. A rapper, composer, and record producer widely known for founding major hip-hop record labels (including Illionaire Records and Ambition Musik), the artist thinks back to when he first started as a rapper and to the exciting present of the scene, now filled with passionate, unique talents.

Not only has the genre become a significant part of the music culture in South Korea, but it has also emerged as a form of entertainment, including TV shows, festivals, and films, enjoyed across many generations.

In addition to the campaign video available on KrOWN (via Spotify Clips) and Spotify’s official global YouTube channel, starting mid December, the KrOWN playlist will be taken over each week by one of the artists featured in the video. Through the KrOWN playlist takeover campaign, Yoon Mirae and Tiger JK, Dynamicduo, The Quiett, and Jay Park will each select 10 of their favorite tracks to be added at the top of the KrOWN playlist for one full week. Interviews of each artist will also be unveiled on the platform.