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Topic: k-pop

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The best albums of the year (so far)

Hanh Nguyen, Natalie Moore, Troy Farah, Garrett Owen, Jason Kyle Howard, Francesca Giangiulio, Coleman Spilde, Joy Saha, Melanie McFarland
Jimin, j-hope, Suga, and Jin in "BTS: The Return" (Netflix)

BTS doc: Snapshot of a troubled comeback

Hanh Nguyen
A sign board promoting a comeback concert of K-pop boy group BTS is seen near Gwanghwamun Square on March 20, 2026 in Seoul, South Korea (Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

BTS Live Comeback vs Super Bowl halftime

Hanh Nguyen
BTS is reuniting after their mandated military service. Their "ARMY" is literally counting down the days to the new album and tour. (Noam Galai / Getty Images)

BTS confirms long-awaited return

CK Smith
A deadly fire in a recently renovated apartment complex in Hong Kong devastates the community and provokes international donations, especially from the K-pop community. (Wang Shen / Xinhua via Getty Images)

Grief, solidarity, help in Hong Kong

CK Smith
"Kpop Demon Hunters": Jeoseung saja Jinu just wants a bit of your soul that's all (Netflix)

The K-pop obsession with your soul

Hanh Nguyen
Morgana O'Reilly, Arnas Fedaravičius, Christian Friedel, Dom Hetrakul and Lalisa Manobal in "The White Lotus" (Fabio Lovino/HBO)

"White Lotus" returns in high spirits

Melanie McFarland
T.O.P. as Thanos in "Squid Game 2" (Netflix)

The manosphere mascot of "Squid Game"

Melanie McFarland
Beyoncé performs onstage during the “RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR” at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 30, 2023 in London, England. | Taylor Swift performs at the Taylor Swift "The Eras Tour" held at Allegiant Stadium on March 24, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo illustration by Salon/Getty Images)

Our year of concert films is good news

Annie Zaleski
Stephanie Hsu as Kat, Sherry Cola as Lolo, Ashley Park as Audrey and Sabrina Wu as Deadeye in "Joy Ride" (Ed Araquel/Lionsgate)

Joy Ride: Nudity representation matters

Kelly Pau
BTS performs during the Times Square New Year's Eve 2020 Celebration on December 31, 2019 in New York City. (Manny Carabel/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

The impact BTS had on my mental health

Lily Doton
Woman making heart shape with hands at music event (Getty Images/Antonio Suarez Vega)

Can "stanning” be a form of recovery?

Maya Golden
South Korea, Seoul, Woman taking a selfie with smartphone at Gyeongbokgung Palace (Getty Images/Westend61)

The dark side of Korean pop-nationalism

Jin Lee, Crystal Abidin - The Conversation
Rachel Dolezal leaves the "Today Show" taping at the NBC Rockefeller Center Studios in 2017 (Getty Images/Ray Tamarra/GC Images)

No, you can't identify as "transracial"

Braden Hill, Stevie Lane - The Conversation
(Photo illustration by Salon/Getty Images)

Thanks to TikTok teens who trolled Trump

Mary Elizabeth Williams
U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he walks toward Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on September 30, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

KPop stans co-opt #ArmyForTrump hashtag

Roger Sollenberger
A supporter sits alone in the top sections of seating as Vice President Mike Pence speaks before President Donald J. Trump arrives for a "Make America Great Again!" rally at the BOK Center on Saturday, June 20, 2020 in Tulsa, OK. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

How K-pop fans humiliated the president

Matthew Rozsa
I'm With The Band: Nasty Cherry (Netflix)

Netflix's "Nasty Cherry" is the pits

Ashlie D. Stevens
Music group BTS (Getty/Kevin Winter)

Boy band BTS topples Asian stereotypes

Susanna Lim - The Conversation
(AP/Ahn Young-joon)

Fast and fizzy K-pop

Paula Young Lee
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Prachi Gupta