AGP Executive Report

K-Pop Heat: Riize is back with its second EP “II,” led by “Do Your Dance,” and SM says it sold 910,000+ copies in a day while topping charts across regions including Taiwan. K-Pop Tour Buzz: ITZY announced the UK & European leg of its “Tunnel Vision” tour, with tickets going on sale today and stops including London, Amsterdam, Paris and Frankfurt. Stadium-Scale Pop: BIGBANG will kick off its 20th anniversary world tour in Goyang with presales starting June 24 and a 31-show run across major arenas. Box Office Watch: Yeon Sang-ho’s zombie thriller “Colony” keeps spreading across Asia, ranking among the top Korean releases in Taiwan and other markets. Cross-Strait Culture & Sports: The 18th Straits Forum’s Cross-Strait Sports Carnival opened in Xiamen with 100 events across 44 sports, including dragon boat racing and folk performances. World Cup in Taiwan: Haiti and Paraguay—Taiwan’s diplomatic allies—held World Cup watch parties in Taipei, showing how football fandom is building community ties. Arts Spotlight: A documentary inspired by the Stratford Rotary Dragon Boat Festival screened at the Rotary International Convention in Taipei, bringing a local story to an international audience.

Taiwan Tech & Culture: Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says the city’s AI technology corridor and Nvidia’s Taipei HQ push will power the next-generation innovation economy at Singapore’s World Cities Summit. Mandopop Spotlight: Dee Hsu marks her 48th birthday and reflects on sister Barbie’s death, while Hong Kong-born veteran singer David Huang dies at 61—his sisters’ statement sparks a dispute over control of his music assets. Stage & Streaming: The 2025 Spy×Family stage musical will stream outside Japan with English subtitles on July 6 via Taiwan’s KKTIX (replay July 7–20), with paid archive access also on Hulu in Japan. Music & Healing: MONO frontman Taka Goto talks about grief and their new album Snowdrop after multiple family losses, including Steve Albini’s passing. Sports (Cross-Strait): The 18th Straits Forum opens in Xiamen, expanding people-to-people exchanges, youth and cultural programs, while the 7th Cross-Strait Financial Forum signs projects worth RMB 9.1 billion. Indie Games: Taiwanese studio Skvader Entertainment adds new demo content and a new hero, Lil’ Gecko, S.W.T., for Seekers Alliance: Hero’s Journey during Steam Next Fest.

Mandopop News: Veteran singer-songwriter David Huang (David Wong) has died at 61 in Honolulu; his sisters say they hold rights to his musical assets and warn against unauthorized use, while his manager disputes the statement and says legal action is coming. K-pop Spotlight: BIGBANG announced a 31-date global stadium tour for its 20th anniversary, with Taiwan dates set for Oct 10-11 at Taipei Dome and a Kaohsiung finale in late Feb 2027. Sports (Volleyball): South Korea swept Chinese Taipei to win the AVC Women’s Cup, with MVP Kang Sowhi leading the charge in a straight-sets final. Sports (Athletics): Taiwan-linked Chinese Taipei is listed among international entries at the ICTSI Philippine Athletics Championships 2026, while PSC chair Patrick Gregorio praised the meet’s grassroots talent pipeline. Cross-Strait Culture: The 18th Straits Forum opened in Xiamen, highlighting people-to-people exchanges including cultural and audiovisual ties.

AVC Women’s Cup Finale: South Korea swept Chinese Taipei 25-19, 25-19, 25-22 to win the 2026 title, with MVP Kang Sowhi taking over late in the third set and sealing the championship in front of a packed Candon City Arena. Local Sports Spotlight: Chinese Taipei also made history by booking its first-ever Women’s Cup final after stunning Kazakhstan, setting up a Taipei-Korea showdown for the crown. Philippines Volleyball Update: Alas Pilipinas ended its campaign with a tough three-set loss to Iran, finishing eighth—an outcome veteran Alyssa Valdez framed as a learning step for the younger squad. K-pop on the Move: i-dle kept the momentum rolling with sold-out stops across Asia, including a Singapore show, and is gearing up for a July 6 comeback. BigBang Returns: BIGBANG announced a 31-show global stadium tour for its 20th anniversary, with Taiwan dates set for Oct. 10-11 at Taipei Dome. Tech & Gaming (Taipei): Intel unveiled Arc G3 chips aimed at PC gaming handhelds at Computex 2026, with new Taipei hands-on coverage highlighting the performance-versus-price reality for gamers. Mandopop Loss: Taiwanese singer-songwriter David Wong (黃大煒) died at 61, known for classics like “You Make Me Drunk.”

Mandopop Loss: Taiwan-based singer-songwriter David Wong (黃大煒) has died at 61, known for classics like “You Make Me Drunk” and “Love Breaks Everyone’s Heart,” with his family saying he passed away suddenly in Hawaii and not sharing a cause. K-pop Spotlight: BIGBANG confirmed a 31-show world stadium tour for its 20th anniversary, kicking off Aug. 21 in Goyang and running through Feb. 28, 2027. Anime Casting Buzz: Ikumi Hasegawa joins KILL BLUE as Mermaid Queen Mai Otohime, with a new slice-of-life visual teasing more club chaos. Cross-Strait Culture Talk: The 18th Straits Forum in Xiamen pushed “peace and exchange” messaging, while mainland actor Zhang Linghe urged more Taiwan compatriots to visit and see development firsthand. Sports-Entertainment Crossover: Chinese Taipei booked its first-ever AVC Women’s Cup final after stunning Kazakhstan, setting up a title clash vs South Korea or Vietnam. Taiwan Sports Event: Penghu Oceanman launched in Penghu Bay with 1,100+ swimmers in its inaugural edition.

AVC Volleyball: Chinese Taipei booked its first-ever AVC Women’s Cup final by stunning Kazakhstan 25-23, 25-16, 25-14, setting up a title match against either South Korea or Vietnam. AVC Final Preview: South Korea also advanced with a sweep over defending champion Vietnam, making the Sunday final a first-time showdown for both finalists. Archery Spotlight: Taiwan’s Chang Cheng-wei and Huang I-jou won mixed team compound gold at the World Cup in Turkey, edging Denmark 158-157. Sports & Community: Penghu Oceanman kicked off with 1,100+ swimmers in Penghu Bay, boosting the island’s sports-tourism push. Cross-Strait Culture & Media: Mainland actor Zhang Linghe drew attention at the Straits Forum, urging more Taiwan compatriots to cross for firsthand exchanges. Maritime Tension: Taiwan’s Coast Guard strongly condemned Beijing after Chinese vessels entered restricted waters near Itu Aba Island. Mandopop Buzz: Jay Chou and JJ Lin teased a duet collaboration, sparking major fan excitement online. K-pop in Taiwan’s Orbit: CORTIS, featuring Taiwanese member James, performed at Seoul’s World Cup street cheering event.

AVC Women’s Cup Volleyball: Chinese Taipei stunned Kazakhstan to book the first-ever AVC Women’s Cup final, with setter Jen Liao Yi-Jen and Tsai Yu-Chun leading the charge in a straight-sets upset. Local Sports Spotlight: Alas Pilipinas, after missing the knockout medal bid, will face Iran in the classification round as Alyssa Valdez urges the team to treat the setback as fuel for the next generation. Open-Water Swim Tourism: Penghu Oceanman kicked off in Penghu Bay with 1,100+ swimmers from 23 countries, upgrading the event into a global Oceanman series qualifier and boosting sports tourism in outlying Taiwan. Mandopop Buzz: Jay Chou teased a duet with JJ Lin on Instagram, and JJ followed up with a cover video—fans are already calling it “Double J” magic. K-pop & Taiwan Connection: CORTIS, featuring Taiwanese member James, appeared as a special guest at Seoul’s World Cup street cheering event, performing “REDRED.” Taiwan Media Tech: TVBS rolled out an in-house real-time AI translation system during Jensen Huang’s GTC Taipei keynote, earning praise for fast, near-simultaneous subtitles. Taiwan Film Abroad: Taiwan Film Week lands at Jerusalem Cinematheque (June 18–24), bringing a small but wide-ranging lineup of stories to Israeli audiences. Cultural Pride in Fashion: Nymphia Wind’s gowns exhibition opened at San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum, spotlighting Taiwanese identity and culture through drag fashion.

Media & Tech in Taiwan: TVBS rolled out a self-developed real-time AI translation system for NVIDIA’s GTC Taipei keynote, delivering near-simultaneous Chinese subtitles that viewers initially mistook for official captions—TVBS says it was optimized and deployed in just nine days. Regulation Watch: Taiwan’s Control Yuan urged tighter oversight of a foreign internship program in the accommodation sector after inspections found passport retention and agency fees, plus gaps in labor insurance coverage. Arts & Culture: Nymphia Wind’s Taiwan-themed gowns exhibition opened at San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum, with the RuPaul’s Drag Race 2024 winner hoping to boost international visibility for Taiwan and its cultural diversity. Entertainment & Travel: EVA Air unveiled upgraded cabins across multiple aircraft types, aiming to refresh comfort and design for long-haul travelers. Airline Safety: Tigerair Taiwan denied reports of an emergency landing in Hokkaido, saying a flight landed safely after an avionics-bay smoke warning during approach. Pop Culture Release: Shao Hao shared details on his debut EP “S.H.17,” a time-travel conversation exploring belonging, identity, grief, and self-acceptance. Global Buzz: Meta suffered a major outage hitting Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, disrupting login and posting for users worldwide.

K-pop Spotlight: BIGBANG is bringing its 20th anniversary “20/26 World Tour” to Taiwan, with Taipei Dome dates on Oct. 10-11 and Kaohsiung National Stadium shows on Feb. 27-28, adding to a busy second-half lineup of Korean acts. VTuber Live Viewing: hololive English’s 4th Concert “-Serendipity-” will broadcast live from Los Angeles to cinemas across Asia including Taiwan, turning fandom into a shared big-screen event. Local Arts & Culture: Hong Kong’s second-half 2026 arts calendar highlights major performances, from contemporary dance and new concert works to other must-see shows. Tech for Entertainment Fans: GIGABYTE wrapped COMPUTEX 2026 with AI- and gaming-focused gear, while Sennheiser unveiled MOMENTUM 5 Wireless headphones aimed at richer everyday listening. Sports (Taiwan-linked): PV Sindhu advanced to the Australian Open 2026 semifinals after a straight-game win over Chinese Taipei’s Chen Su Yu, setting up a clash with Akane Yamaguchi. Travel & Lifestyle: Taipei World Cup watch parties drew international fans together at early-morning hours, showing how football culture travels.

K-pop Spotlight: BIGBANG just confirmed its 20th-anniversary world stadium tour, with Taiwan dates locked in—Taipei Dome on Oct. 10–11 and Kaohsiung National Stadium on Feb. 27–28, 2027—after a Coachella comeback and a 31-show run across Asia, North America, Europe and Australia. Sports & Entertainment Crossover: In the 2026 AVC Women’s Cup, Chinese Taipei dominated Alas Pilipinas to knock them out of semifinal contention, keeping Taipei unbeaten and sending the Philippines to the classification round. TV/Film Industry: Starz and the Alliance of Women Directors launched the Creative Leadership Lab, naming its inaugural class of fellows supporting women and gender-expansive TV directors. Arts & Culture: Arno Coenen’s “The Flavour Dragon” public art project is transforming Taipei’s Huannan Market with a giant dragon sculpture and ceramic works co-created with vendors and students. Anime Music: Omoinotake will release Hana-Kimi theme singles “FLASHBULB” (July 2) and “Hanataba” (July 22) for Season 2, starting July 1. Tech for Creators: GIGABYTE says its AERO X16 Copilot+ ultra-thin PC is now available, pitching on-device AI and creator-friendly features.

K-pop Spotlight: BIGBANG just announced a 31-show 20th anniversary stadium world tour, kicking off Aug. 21–23 in Goyang and sweeping through major cities including Oakland, Paris, London, and Taiwan—Taipei Dome Oct. 10–11 and Kaohsiung National Stadium Feb. 27–28, 2027—after their Coachella return. Local Pop Culture: South Korean actor Byeon Woo-seok is bringing his “The Secret Library” fan meeting tour to Taiwan’s neighbors, with Taipei set for Sept. 25 (tickets not yet announced), following stops across Asia. Anime & Retail: animate Taichung is relocating to a bigger spot near Taichung Station, reopening July 17, 2026 with a larger one-floor store for manga, art books, CDs/Blu-rays, and character goods. Music Industry: Taiwan’s Golden Indie Music Awards (GIMA) opens applications June 1–July 1 for its 17th edition on Oct. 31 at Taipei Music Center, including a Best Asian Creative Artist category. Sports (Taiwan Connection): In the 2026 AVC Women’s Cup, Taiwan’s Chinese Taipei stayed unbeaten while sweeping Alas Pilipinas, dashing the Philippines’ semifinal hopes.

K-pop & Fan Culture: South Korean actor Byeon Woo-seok is bringing his 2026 “The Secret Library” Asia fan meeting tour to Manila on Oct. 10 at SM Mall of Asia Arena, after stops including Seoul (July 4–5), Bangkok, Yokohama, Singapore, Taipei, Jakarta and Hong Kong. Documentary & Film Festivals: Doc Edge Festival 2026 (Auckland June 24–July 12, then Wellington July 15–26, plus Christchurch Aug 31–Sept 2) will screen 87 films and immersive projects, including 28 world premieres, with a virtual cinema run July 27–Aug 10. Sports (Badminton): Taiwan’s Lee Zii Jia was knocked out in the Australian Open 2026 opening round, while Taiwan’s Wong Ling Ching advanced and will face Taiwan’s Huang Yu-Hsun next. Arts & Tech: CURRENTS New Media Festival returns June 12 with new media work where AI is treated as a tool, not the main event. Semiconductors & Industry: TSMC reported May 2026 net revenue of about NT$416.98B (US$13.25B), up 30.1% year-on-year, as it pushes fab and advanced packaging expansion. Local Tech/Design: IRIS Optronics won Japan’s 2026 Digital Signage Award for its full-color ChLCD e-paper tech. Global Entertainment Business: Netflix unscripted chief Jeff Gaspin is exiting the streamer, a shake-up for the company’s reality and competition slate. International Arts (Taiwan win): Taiwan floral designer Eric Lin won overall at the 2026 Gateway to the Americas Cup in Orlando, with Brazil named host for 2028.

Fan Culture: South Korean actor Byeon Woo-seok announced his 2026 “The Secret Library” Asia fan meeting tour, with stops including Taipei and Manila (Oct 10 at SM Mall of Asia Arena), plus Seoul, Bangkok, Yokohama, Singapore, Jakarta and Hong Kong. Arts & Design: Taiwan’s Eric Lin won the 2026 Gateway to the Americas Cup floral design title in Orlando, while organizers also named Brazil as the 2028 host. Local Pop Culture: PMQ Play Stuff Fest returns June 19–21 with a retro toy “diner” theme, featuring 40+ indie art-toy brands across Taipei and beyond. Tech & Business (Taiwan-linked): Bizlink (Taiwan) agreed to buy Blackstone’s Interplex ICT unit for $850M to expand AI/data-center interconnect reach. Sports (Taiwan in focus): Alas Pilipinas’ AVC Women’s Cup hopes hinge on a must-win vs Chinese Taipei after a tough start. Lifestyle/Travel: A travel feature spotlights Taiwan as a next-trip destination, from Kaohsiung’s swing bridge to sea-turtle snorkeling.

K-pop & Pop Culture: Byeon Woo Seok announced a 2026 “The Secret Library” fan meeting tour with stops including Taipei, Singapore, Manila, Jakarta and more, kicking off July 4–5 in Seoul. K-pop & Concerts: Itzy adds new dates to its “Tunnel Vision” world tour, including a return to Singapore Indoor Stadium on Oct 3, plus Taipei and other major cities. Music Industry: WAKEONE’s izna and ALPHA DRIVE ONE are partnering with REPUBLIC (Universal Music Group) to expand album promotions and global distribution. Sports (Badminton): Lee Zii Jia cleared Australia Open qualifying and will face Taiwan’s Lee Chia Hao in the main draw. Sports (Volleyball): Chinese Taipei grabbed Pool A lead in the AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup after beating Uzbekistan in straight sets. Taiwan Spotlight (Diplomacy): Palau President Surangel S. Whipps Jr reiterated support for Taiwan during VP Hsiao Bi-khim’s visit, stressing sovereignty and democratic values. Tech & Media (Taiwan-linked): China Airlines rolls out a new premium economy cabin on 787-9 deliveries, with seat design inspired by Jiufen and New Taipei culture.

Taipei Culture: The National Palace Museum is hosting a free Dragon Boat Festival flute concert on June 19, featuring the Joueurs de Flûte Ensemble and a program mixing summer-themed arrangements, “White Peony,” and flute jazz. K-pop & Mandopop Buzz: ITZY added new stops to its 2026 “TUNNEL VISION” tour, including Taipei (Sept) plus Europe dates and a Singapore show (Oct). Music Rights: Universal Music Greater China acquired the Carrier Creative Mandopop catalog, including Little Tigers and Johnny Chiang, after a Taiwan-linked partnership helped remaster hundreds of releases. Tech Meets Entertainment: Nvidia announced major AI deals in South Korea, including a “gigawatt-scale” AI data center project and partnerships tied to SK hynix memory supply. Gaming: Capcom says “Resident Evil Veronica” is set for a 2027 remake release. Sports Spotlight (Taiwan): Chinese Taipei beat Uzbekistan 3-0 to take Pool A’s solo lead in the 2026 AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup. Fan Events: Byeon Woo-seok is reportedly holding fan-meets across Asia, with Taipei listed among the cities.

K-Pop & Live Music: ITZY just added major stops to its 2026 ‘TUNNEL VISION’ world tour, including Taipei on June 27 plus London, Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, Macao and Singapore—more dates to follow. Taiwan Pop Culture: Universal Music Greater China acquired the Carrier Creative Mandopop catalog, restoring and remastering classics tied to Little Tigers and Johnny Chiang, with a Taiwan-based Skyhigh Entertainment partnership credited for the relaunch. Health & Entertainment: Taiwanese actor Jun Fu (Fu Zichun) died at 46 after complications from acute leukemia, prompting a reminder from a local doctor to watch for early warning signs like fever, fatigue, paleness, unusual bleeding/bruising, and bone pain. Tech for Creators & Fans: E-Ink installed a 75-inch e-paper display at Taipei Taoyuan Airport for greener, low-power digital signage. Arts & Public Space: Spanish sculptor Jaume Plensa unveiled his permanent work NEST in Prague—his portfolio famously includes pieces installed in Taipei. Sports Spotlight: Alyssa Valdez and Alyssa Solomon kept their heads up after Alas Pilipinas’ five-set loss to Australia in the AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup.