HYBE is officially launching a new boy group in the U.S., and they’ve brought in some of the biggest names in the music industry to make it happen!

On February 21, HYBE announced that Chairman Bang Si Hyuk, HYBE America CEO Scooter Braun, and Grammy-winning producer Ryan Tedder have joined forces to create a next-generation boy group.

To find the perfect members, they’ve opened an official audition website where aspiring stars aged 13 to 23 can apply. Applicants need to submit a profile photo, a self-introduction, and videos showcasing their vocal and dance skills.

All eyes are on whether Bang Si Hyuk’s K-pop system—responsible for launching global stars like BTS—will shake up the U.S. market once again. Last year, HYBE successfully debuted KATSEYE, proving that K-pop’s training and development strategies can thrive in the American music industry.

Ryan Tedder, the mastermind behind hits for Beyoncé, Adele, and Ed Sheeran, is set to bring his expertise to the group’s music production. He has already worked with HYBE artists, contributing to songs like TXT’s Back for More, &TEAM’s Dropkick, and KATSEYE’s Debut.

Scooter Braun, known for managing Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, will play a key role in discovering and shaping the group’s star power. His industry connections and experience in launching global pop icons make him an essential part of the project.

With HYBE’s artist development expertise, Ryan Tedder’s musical genius, and Scooter Braun’s industry know-how, expectations for this new group are sky-high!

Bang Si Hyuk shared, “HYBE artists have consistently dominated global charts, proving that the K-pop methodology works worldwide. With KATSEYE’s success in the U.S., we’re taking the next step by launching this boy group with Ryan Tedder. We’re excited to continue making history in the music industry.”

Ryan Tedder also expressed his excitement, saying, “This is going to be an amazing journey. We’re building a fan-driven group with top-tier music, and I can’t wait to see it all come together.”

Meanwhile, HYBE’s U.S. girl group KATSEYE is already making waves. Their debut EP SIS (Soft Is Strong) entered the Billboard 200 at No. 119, and their track Touch surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify in just 82 days.

Fans are now eager to see if HYBE’s new boy group will reach similar success.

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The When Life Gives You Tangerines cast melted fans’ hearts once again — this time off-screen!

On April 15, the VIP premiere of the film Yadang took place at Megabox COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul, and it quickly turned into a Poksak reunion.

The event was already buzzing with big names like Uhm Tae Woong (who made his first appearance in 8 years), Lee Min Ho, Ha Ji Won, Lee Joo Young, Hyeri, Lee Yu Bi, Kim Sung Kyun, and even Single’s Inferno 4's Lee Si An.

But the surprise appearance of severalWhen Life Gives You Tangerines cast members made fans super emotional.

IU, who played Gwansik’s daughter Geum Myeong in the Netflix series, was spotted quietly entering the theater wearing a mask. A fan who noticed her shared a photo, writing, “Poksak daughter Geum Myeong is here!”

Kim Seon Ho also showed up and quickly got attention. Fans recognized him despite the mask and commented, “Chung Seop is here too!” and “Park Hae Joon’s son-in-law came!” Kim Seon Ho made a special appearance in the series as Geum Myeong’s husband.

Kang Yoo Seok, who played Eun Myeong Yi (Gwansik’s son), also came to support his on-screen dad. Fans left sweet comments like “The son is so thoughtful!”

And of course, Choi Dae Hoon — better known as “Hak Ssi Ahjussi” — made fans smile with his bright energy. People couldn’t stop talking about him, saying things like “He came to see his in-laws’ movie,” and “The whole When Life Gives You Tangerines family is here!”

Before the event, Park Hae Joon shared in an interview with Xports News that he wasn’t sure who would show up, saying, “Everyone’s really busy, so it depends on the situation. But I’d be really happy if we could meet again after a long time.”

Well, they did meet again — and fans couldn’t be happier.

In Poksak, Park Hae Joon played the loving father Gwansik, but in Yadang, he takes on a much tougher role as a drug squad detective who never gives up on catching criminals. His transformation is already gaining attention from fans eager to see him in a new light.

Meanwhile, Yadang officially hit theaters on April 16.

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