2025 Year in Review: Top 10 Best Articles from KpopStarz

This year has been a rollercoaster for K-pop fans, filled with anticipation as they awaited midnight releases, refreshed fancafe postings, and reacted to enlistment announcements. You weren’t alone in experiencing the highs and lows of fandom life—together, we witnessed joyous celebrations and tense moments enveloped in scandal while tirelessly supporting our favorite idols through every comeback and stage appearance. Our role has been to sift through the noise, verify facts, and illuminate the narratives behind the trends and hashtags that dominate our feeds.

These narratives encapsulate a range of topics including contract negotiations, relationship disclosures, chart-topping successes, tour announcements, and pivotal events that have rocked the fandom community.

1. Starship Entertainment Calls for Accountability After Offensive IVE Deepfake Incident

In a disturbing turn of events, Starship Entertainment issued an apology for unintentionally sharing a sexual deepfake featuring IVE’s Yujin on its official Weibo account. This incident ignited outrage among fans who were appalled by the nature of the content, which included AI-generated sexual imagery and derogatory remarks targeting the beloved idol.

The company clarified that the post went live during an attempt to address the offensive original upload. Starship has since taken down the controversial post and vowed to enhance oversight on its social media platforms, expressing regret to both IVE and their dedicated fanbase. However, skepticism regarding this explanation persisted among fans, who highlighted the platform’s multiple prompts before sharing, raising concerns about how such an error could occur, especially given the escalating issue of deepfake exploitation in the K-pop ecosystem.

2. Stray Kids’ Felix Graces Louis Vuitton Runway at Paris Fashion Week

In a remarkable showcase of talent, Stray Kids’ Felix took to the runway for Louis Vuitton’s Fall/Winter 2025 womenswear presentation during Paris Fashion Week, marking his second collaboration with the luxury brand. On March 10, he donned a stylish ensemble comprising a textured black and white sweater, brown and gold plaid trousers, complemented by a navy handbag, braided belt, and chic sneakers.

Felix’s return to the catwalk comes nearly two years after he was appointed as a Louis Vuitton ambassador in August 2023, a partnership that artistic director Nicolas Ghesquière celebrated for Felix’s radiant energy and daring fashion sense. Fans praised him for being a standout fourth-generation K-pop idol who has had the honor of walking for the brand on multiple occasions.

3. KATSEYE’s Daniela Avanzini’s Family Confronts Instagram Controversy

Daniela Avanzini from KATSEYE found herself at the center of a controversy when it was revealed that her mother was following Donald Trump on Instagram. Daniela’s mother clarified that the follow was not politically motivated, urging fans to avoid reading too much into her social media follows.

She explained that the decision was inspired by a heartfelt post about the Pope and emphasized that it does not reflect political views held by her or Daniela. The incident quickly garnered attention, leading some fans to erroneously link Daniela to her mother’s political inclinations. Nevertheless, many supporters rallied to defend the idol and her family, advocating for a separation of one’s public persona from familial affiliations, particularly in light of KATSEYE’s controversial ties to HYBE America CEO Scooter Braun.

4. THE BLACK LABEL Faces Accusations of Cultural Appropriation

Just days ahead of the debut of its co-ed group ALLDAY Project, THE BLACK LABEL has come under fire for alleged cultural appropriation. The focus of the controversy is member Lee Chaewon, also known as Tarzzan, who has faced backlash for sporting braided hairstyles that many believe heavily reference styles associated with Black culture.

Various images on Tarzzan’s Instagram and promotional materials displaying these hairstyles heightened criticism, especially after fans noticed his social media following included convicted rapper Tory Lanez. This led some fans to perceive it as tacit support for Lanez, stirring further outrage.

5. T.O. P Opens Up About Leaving BIGBANG Amidst Scandal

T. O.P has come forward to explain his departure from BIGBANG, stating he felt responsible for the turmoil that ensued following his marijuana scandal. In his first interview in over a decade, the artist, who is now known as Choi Seung Hyun, shared that he informed both YG Entertainment and his fellow members of his intention to leave once he completed his military service, not wishing to inflict further harm on the group.

Reflecting on his years of isolation, T. O.P expressed his struggle with guilt, despite ongoing fan anticipation for a BIGBANG reunion. He described viewing old band photos—”like gazing at a family that has been separated” —and admitted he finds it difficult to connect with remaining members, even as he expresses his care for them. Confirming no plans to rejoin the group, he now focuses on his solo career in acting and music.

6. Aespa’s Karina Faces Outrage Over Inappropriate Comments by Politician’s Son

A troubling incident involving the son of Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae Myung has emerged, as he was fined 5 million Korean won for posting sexually explicit remarks about aespa’s Karina on online poker forums back in 2021. His statements revealed an alarming attitude, claiming he “wanted to eat her once” amidst suggestive comments made under her images.

Court records disclosed that the Suwon District Court imposed the fine for violations concerning obscene content and habitual gambling, further noting his decision not to appeal. His account also made inappropriate comments about DJ Soda, which intensified public outrage. The situation turned political, with rival candidates leveraging the incident to undermine Lee Jae Myung’s campaign, exacerbating the scrutiny surrounding K-pop idols.

7. Former T-ARA’s Areum Sentenced in Child Abuse Case

Former T-ARA member Areum has been handed an eight-month prison sentence along with two years of probation due to serious child abuse allegations involving her children and ex-husband. This verdict follows a 2024 investigation that found insufficient evidence supporting Areum’s accusations against her ex-husband, leading to counter-charges against her for abuse, neglect, and defamation.

The Suwon District Court, which noted Areum’s admission to the charges, condemned the emotional distress inflicted on the children’s legal guardian. This ruling has sent shockwaves through the K-pop community, sparking conversations about the responsibilities of public figures in their personal lives.

8. ASTRO’s Cha Eunwoo to Begin Military Duty in July

ASTRO member Cha Eunwoo is set to commence his compulsory military service on July 28, 2025, after gaining acceptance into the Army Military Band. This announcement, confirmed by his agency Fantagio, marks him as the second member of ASTRO to enlist, following MJ’s completion of service in 2023.

Fantagio indicated that Cha Eunwoo will first undergo basic training, followed by approximately 18 months in the military band, with an anticipated discharge around January 2027. Prior to his enlistment, he is scheduled to participate in ASTRO’s upcoming concert “The 4th ASTROAD [Stargraphy]”in Incheon while also continuing his role in Netflix’s “The Wonder Fools.”His busy agenda comes after recent projects, including the successful “Wonderful World”drama, a music video for IU, and a solo EP titled “Entity.”

9. ITZY Negotiates Contract Renewals with JYP Entertainment

ITZY has confirmed they are engaged in discussions for contract renewals with JYP Entertainment, as announced during a press conference for their latest mini-album “Girls Will Be Girls.”Chaeryeong expressed a sense of surrealism regarding the renewal talks in their seventh year, promising fans they would strive to share positive news, though it remains uncertain if all five members will ultimately re-sign.

The announcement aligns with ITZY’s comeback, which is propelled by their tenth mini-album featuring the title track “Girls Will Be Girls.”The ongoing negotiations highlight shifts within the industry as idols navigate the complexities of their contracts and careers.

10. Controversy Surrounding aespa’s Karina and Political Interpretations

Aespa’s Karina has found herself at the center of controversy after sharing an Instagram photo interpreted by netizens as a political statement amid the South Korean presidential election. In a now-deleted post, Karina donned a black jacket adorned with red patterns and prominently displayed a “2, ”alongside a red rose emoji, leading some to connect it to the People Power Party, whose candidate is second on the ballot.

The backlash saw Karina referred to derogatorily as “Conservative Karina, ”with numerous critics questioning her compliance with the “no color, no gesture”norm that idols are expected to follow during election periods. As the situation escalated, SM Entertainment released a statement clarifying that Karina harbored no political intentions, subsequently removing the post to avoid further misunderstandings and pledging to exercise greater caution in the future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sii3WXtKbLA

aespa’s Karina gets severe backlash for IG Post – Here’s What Happened (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sii3WXtKbLA)

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