Today in K-pop, explained.

ILLIT returns Oct. 26 with fifth mini album BREAK EVEN

ILLIT's fifth mini album BREAK EVEN drops Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. KST, the same day as new releases from IVE and RIIZE. Here's what we know.

LISA's EP PRESS PLAY arrives Oct. 23 after Thai-greeting single SaWaDiKa

BLACKPINK's LISA releases her EP PRESS PLAY on Oct. 23, after prerelease single SaWaDiKa. Her documentary Always Lalisa hits theaters Oct. 12.

IU's "Dear my crazy soulmate" debuts at No. 7 on Soompi's chart

IU's "Dear my crazy soulmate," a double title track from her single Unknown Planet and a tribute to friend Yoo In Na, entered Soompi's chart at No. 7.

TEEN TOP set Oct. 15 return with 11th mini album DON'T STOP

Veteran boy group TEEN TOP will release their 11th mini album DON'T STOP on Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. KST. Here's the summary and context for new fans.

Xdinary Heroes drop IMPULSE on Oct. 12, their first release as five

Xdinary Heroes release mini album IMPULSE on Oct. 12 with lead track Obsessed with Youth, their first music since Gun-il left. A November concert follows.

AND2BLE announce second mini album Sequence 02: Attraction for Oct. 27

AND2BLE, formed by four former ZEROBASEONE members, return Oct. 27 with Sequence 02: Attraction after a debut that sold over 730,000 first-week copies.

최애 choeae

최애 (choeae): the Korean word for your bias

최애 (choeae) means your number-one favorite, like an idol's "bias." It's a real dictionary word built from two Hanja meaning "most" and "love."

덕후 deokhu

덕후 (deokhu): Korea's word for a superfan

덕후 (deokhu) means a devoted fan or enthusiast. It comes from the Japanese word otaku, and it gave K-pop fans words like 덕질 and 성덕.

입덕 ipdeok

입덕 (ipdeok): the moment you fall into a fandom

입덕 (ipdeok) is the moment you become a fan. Learn where it comes from, the famous 입덕 영상 ("entry video"), and its opposite, 탈덕.

머글 meogeul

머글 (meogeul): what fans call non-fans

머글 (meogeul) is what Korean fans call people outside the fandom. Yes, it's borrowed from "muggle" in Harry Potter. Meaning, examples and tips.

띵곡 ttinggok

띵곡 (ttinggok): a masterpiece song, spelled like a meme

띵곡 (ttinggok) means an amazing song. It's 명곡 rewritten with look-alike Hangul letters, a meme style called 야민정음 (yaminjeongeum).

차애 chaae

차애 (chaae): your second-favorite member

차애 (chaae) is your second-favorite member, the one right after your 최애. Learn the meaning, where it comes from and how fans use it.