Monsta X’s Hyungwon and Ive’s Rei will serve as emcees at the 3rd Asia Star Entertainer Awards 2026 (ASEA 2026).

The organiser announced the news on 17 March, stating that the two stars will be the emcees for the first day of the event, which will be held on 16 and 17 May at the Belluna Dome in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.

Monsta X’s Hyungwon and IVE’s Rei have already showcased their witty hosting skills as emcees for ASEA last year. Although the two served as emcees on different days at the time, they are set to team up as emcees for the first day of ASEA 2026.

Hyungwon, who resumed his activities as an emcee for ASEA following his military discharge last year, made his comeback with Monsta X with the commemorative album ‘THE X’ to mark their 10th anniversary.

Rei made her debut as an awards ceremony emcee through ASEA last year and had a fruitful year in both her activities with IVE and solo career.

(Photo Source: Hyungwon IG, Rei IG, MK)

IVE is set to make its return next month, just as they are kicking going on their second world tour.

Announcing the good news on 17 January, Starship Entertainment, stated, “IVE is currently in the final stages of album production, aiming for a comeback in late February. The group is now focusing on delivering an even more polished and high-quality release.”

This comeback comes about six months after the release of their fourth mini album “IVE Secret” in August last year.

Meanwhile, following their February comeback, IVE will meet global fans through their second world tour, “SHOW WHAT I AM”, spanning Asia, Europe, the Americas and Oceania.

The tour began at Seoul’s KSPO DOME last October and is set to continue through April with a performance at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Japan.

(Photo Source: IVE IG)

IVE’s Jang Won-young has now sparked the anger of Chinese netizens, after a video of her saying that Hong Kong is her “favourite country” went viral online.

The issue sparked after IVE team released behind-the-scenes footage of the MAMA awards ceremony on their official YouTube channel titled “MAMA 2025 Behind”.

In the video, Jang, who was getting her makeup done backstage, happily shared that she was going to have a delicious dinner later, adding “I really like Hong Kong. There are so many delicious things to eat. Hong Kong is one of my favourite countries!”

The video had since gone viral, with mainland Chinese netizens expressing anger and dissatisfaction.

Some argued that “Hong Kong is a region, not a country,” and that such a thing is not a mere mistake as it signifies a political stance. Others criticised the lack of Korean idols’ understanding of political sensitivities and general knowledge.

Netizens on Weibo have also started the hashtag “#IVEGetOutofChina,” just as IVE team removes the video from its channel.

(Photo Source: IVE IG, Jang IG)

Girl group IVE will no longer accept gifts from fans except for heartfelt letters, said their agency.

In an announcement made on 15 December, Starship Entertainment declared, “We have decided to stop accepting any gifts or support other than fan letters from now on. This decision was made with the hope that the gifts you send will go to those who need the most, so we ask for your understanding and cooperation.”

“If you are currently preparing or planning any form of support, we respectfully ask that you refrain from doing so, and we will gratefully accept only the heartfelt sentiments of our fans,” they added.

The announcement came just after member Jang Won-young, who has a strong fan base in China, received luxury gifts from them for her birthday back in August. This includes items from Chaumet, Bulgari and Van Cleef.

The total value of the gifts alone amounted to nearly KRW 500 million, sparking significant discussion.

It is noted that there have been several South Korean big names that have banned fans from giving hefty gifts, including G-Dragon, BTS and Twice.

(Photo Source: IVE IG)

Malaysian DIVE will be happy to know that the girls of IVE are set to bring their highly anticipated second world tour, “IVE WORLD TOUR <SHOW WHAT I AM>” to Kuala Lumpur.

Following its spectacular kick-off in Seoul, the tour continues its global expansion, marking the return of the “IVE Syndrome” on an even larger scale. This will include Kuala Lumpur’s Axiata Arena, which will be held on 4 April 2026.

As the title suggests, “SHOW WHAT I AM” is where IVE, consisting of ANYUJIN, GAEUL, REI, JANGWONYOUNG, LIZ and LEESEO, presents their most authentic selves on stage. After the massive success of their first world tour, IVE will be returning with greater artistic depth, upgraded production, and a more refined creative identity.

One of the most anticipated highlights of the concert will be the exclusive solo stages, where each member will showcase their unique artistry, emotional stories, and individual musical direction.

Fans can expect performances of “XOXZ” from their 4th mini album ‘IVE SECRET’, as well as special stages for tracks like “GOTCHA (Baddest Eros)” and “♥beats,” among others.

Audiences can also look forward to fan-favourite hits such as “Baddie,” “ATTITUDE,” “REBEL HEART,” “I AM,” and the global phenomenon “LOVE DIVE.”

Live Nation members can secure tickets during the exclusive LIVE NATION PRESALE on 10

December (Wed), from 11am to 11.59pm. Visit livenation.my for free membership signup and presale access. Tickets for the general public will go on sale on 11 December (Thurs), from 11am onwards via golive-asia.com.

Singer and IVE member Jang Won-young has recently been named the new ambassador of Bvlgari.

The news of the appointment was recently announced by the Italian luxury fashion house via its social media accounts, and wrote, “WELCOME JANG WONYOUNG. A new story begins: Bvlgari is delighted to welcome @for_everyoung10 as its newest Ambassador.”

“Joining the Bvlgari Family with timeless elegance and magnetic presence,” it added.

In a video shared of Jang donning accessories from Bulgari’s “Divas’ Dream” collection, the singer expressed, “Bvlgari expresses itself with earnest passion, always revealing something new. To me, becoming a Bvlgari ambassador means opening the door to endless possibilities within me.”

“With Bvlgari, I want to bring out my full potential and embrace it freely and boldly, in my own way. Join me on this radiant journey with Bvlgari!”

Jang will participate in Bvlgari’s “Kaleidos” event in Tokyo in September, which is said to be the brand’s largest exhibition in Japan and its first one in a decade.

(Photo Source: Bvlgari IG, Jang Won-young IG)

K-pop girl group IVE is set to perform at Lollapalooza Paris next year.

The news was announced by the annual French music festival on 12 November, as they unveiled the eight new performers for their 2025 lineup after earlier revealing David Guetta and Justin Timberlake.

The six-member group will be performing on the final day of the three-day event, which will have Timberlake headlining. Others performing on the date include Tems and Joé Dwèt Filé.

The upcoming Lollapalooza Paris will be held from 18 to 20 July at the Hippodrome de Longchamp.

(Photo Source: IVE IG, Lollapalooza Paris IG)

Yu Yuhan seems to have made the record of being the fastest idol member to have left a group, after making his debut less than 48 hours.

As reported on Sina, Time FengJun Entertainment, the same company that manages TFBoys announced on 28 August that T.O.P’s Yu has officially withdrawn from the group two days after the members made their debut.

This comes after some netizens accused him of making perverse comments about Jang Wonyoung, the member of K-pop group IVE.

In a statement released by the company, it stated, “Our artiste Yu Yuhan has recently been caught up in a negative opinion. The artiste is facing tremendous mental and psychological pressure.”

“Out of consideration for his group and other members, he has repeatedly expressed his intention to withdraw from the group for the past two days. The company has finally decided to respect his decision and announce his departure beginning today,” the company added.

However, Time FengJun Entertainment stressed that the group will continue to operate as a five-member group consisting of Zhu Zhixin, Zhang Zeyu, Zhang Ji, Su Xinhao and Zuo Hang, and will not be adding another person to the mix.

At the same time, the company stated that those responsible for spreading false information and details about Yu will face legal consequences.

(Photo Source: Wonyoung IG, Nownews, SINA)

IVE has announced the dates for their upcoming world tour, with Kuala Lumpur and Singapore being part of the many legs of the tour.

The six-member girl group is set to perform in Kuala Lumpur on 17 February, followed by Singapore on the 24th, before moving to Taipei on 2 March. Prior to that, they will be performing in Jakarta on 13 & 14 January, followed by Bangkok on 27 January.

This comes just a month after they kicked off the tour in October with two shows in Seoul, South Korea.

Later in July 2024, the K-pop act will return to Asia for two more shows in Hong Kong and the Philippines on the 6th and 13th.

More tour dates to be announced soon.

Consisting of Gaeul, Yujin, Rei, Wonyoung, Liz, and Leeseo, IVE is a South Korean girl group formed by Starship Entertainment that made their debut in December 2021 with their single album, “Eleven”.