Author: Kpop News Writer

The 2023 World Scout Jamboree concert, despite its initial controversies and lineup changes, saw some of the brightest stars in K-Pop take the stage. Among these acts was the rookie group xikers. Since debuting, xikers has been making waves with their catchy songs, powerful performances, and undeniable stage presence.

Their performance at the World Scout Jamboree concert was no exception. With their unmatched energy, they captivated both the live audience and those tuning in via live stream. However, amidst their electrifying performance of “DO or DIE,” a moment in the crowd stole the spotlight. As the camera panned over the audience, two male scouts shared an unexpected kiss. The camera captured this moment, a rarity in conservative Korea, and it quickly went viral.

The video clip of the kiss was shared on social media by a Korean netizen and rapidly gained traction among Korean and international fans. Many international fans expressed their surprise and delight, attributing the spontaneous act to the infectious energy of xikers‘ music. Some netizens joked that xikers‘ music “turns everyone queer” and praised the group for their outstanding show.

The unexpected public display of affection added to the buzz surrounding xikers‘ performance and introduced many new fans to the group’s undeniable talent and charisma.

xikers set a new record

In other news, xikers have also made headlines for another reason. Their latest album, HOUSE OF TRICKY: HOW TO PLAY, set a new first-week sales record for the group. 

According to data from Hanteo, the album recorded 205,895 copies sold within its first week. This figure surpassed the sales of their first mini-album, HOUSE OF TRICKY: Doorbell Ringing, which sold around 100,000 units in its first week. This achievement further cements xikers‘ rising status in the K-Pop industry.

Congratulations to xikers on their continued success! – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Their new album’s sales numbers and performance at the Jamboree boosted their public profile. Source: Twitter/@xikers_official.

SEVENTEEN‘s The8—one of the K-pop group’s two Chinese members—is known for being candid. In a live broadcast on Weibo, he talked about a topic close to his heart: his interactions with CARATs outside official events.

Reflecting on his evolution from an unknown to a world-famous member of SEVENTEEN, The8 said, “Whenever I go out, I almost always encounter CARATs who recognize me. That brings me immense joy, considering I was virtually unknown when I debuted.”

However, his new level of fame has its challenges, especially regarding fan interactions in public. “If I’m just resting outside because it’s my private life, I don’t like being interrupted,” he said honestly. “But if I already noticed that you saw me, say hi. I’d appreciate that. If you’re afraid of disturbing me so you don’t want to say hi, but you’re also secretly filming me, I’ll have to avoid you. If I avoid you, then you’ll try to find me, and that will make me uncomfortable, right? It’s a vicious cycle.”

Personal moments

The8 emphasized how uncomfortable he feels when fans take pictures and videos of him when they think he’s not looking. “I believe genuine fans of mine or SEVENTEEN’s should be confident enough to greet me. That way, I won’t feel anxious about being covertly photographed or recorded. You may think I’m oblivious when you do that, but I notice. I always do.”

While he treasures the affection from CARATs, The8 also hopes they understand the significance of boundaries. Genuine support, he believes, means respecting his privacy during personal moments.

“If I’m with my family or friends, perhaps you can wait until I’m free to greet me,” The8 suggested. When I went to the seaside with my parents, we met a lot of CARATs. Everyone was polite. There was a little girl who probably wasn’t even ten years old yet. As we were leaving, she said softly, ‘Are you The8? I’m your fan. I really like SEVENTEEN.’ I was taken aback because we were there for almost thirty minutes, and she didn’t come over to interrupt at all. I thought, ‘Wow, she’s so polite at such a young age.’ I was truly happy.”

The8 on art and self-care

The8 also discussed his recent endeavors, including filming a new episode of GOING SEVENTEEN and his love for art. Lately, he’s been more into drawing and painting than dancing.

When some fans asked him to post photos of his work on social media, The8 replied, “I’m hesitant to share my art casually. I’m happy to talk about my process, but I’d prefer to present my finished pieces in a more formal setting, where I can fully convey the emotions behind each work. I hope to share my art with you in the future. But for now, I need more time. I want to feel truly proud of my creations, whether they’re dance, musical, or visual art projects. I know CARATs are eager for new content, but I ask for your patience.”

He’s been into self-care lately because he wants to show CARATs his best side. “I want to interact with you when I’m at my best. Lately, I’ve realized I shouldn’t overexert myself. I’ve always been ambitious, pushing myself to improve my performance. While I enjoy being active, I understand my body’s limits now. That’s why I’m focusing on rest. But you’ll still see me in upcoming content.”

The8 wants CARATs to keep supporting him and his group while respecting their boundaries. As his live broadcast ended, he imparted a poignant message to them: “Take a moment to gaze at the sky, relish the clouds, and treasure life.” – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: The8 looks adorable in a behind-the-scenes collage from the next issue of GOING SEVENTEEN magazine. Source: Twitter/@svtcontents.

The K-pop scene is abuzz with excitement as SM Entertainment’s newest boy group, RIIZE, shared teaser images for their debut single album, “Get A Guitar.” These images, released on the group’s official social media, show the members in their practice room, embodying the concept of “Training Days.” The photos radiate a cool, unique vibe, highlighting the members’ fresh visuals.

RIIZE‘s teasers are connected to their album’s theme, which encapsulates the time they invested in preparing for their debut. This theme also hints at the “Real-Time Odyssey (Journey of Growth)” the members will embark on post-debut. Moreover, RIIZE recently held their first live broadcast on Instagram. They interacted with fans from South Korea and elsewhere by sharing insights into their music and performance journey. 

[ENG/INDO SUB] 230808 RIIZE First Instagram Live

This live broadcast was followed by their performance video for the song “Siren,” which has already garnered significant attention.

RIIZE 라이즈 ‘Siren’ Performance Video

However, the group’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges. After their live broadcast, RIIZE faced a wave of discussions and debates regarding photo editing and perceptions of reality. The live broadcast, intended to offer fans a candid glimpse of the members, inadvertently sparked fandom discourse. Some K-netizens felt the members’ visuals during the live broadcast were very different from the polished images they posted before.

Comments ranged from praising the group’s photographic skills to questioning the extent of photo enhancements in earlier releases. While some fans defended the group, emphasizing that all artists’ photos are edited to some extent, others expressed disappointment. This incident underscores the challenges artists face in the digital age, where edited content can influence perception.

RIIZE is making waves

Accusations of too much photo editing aside, RIIZE is making waves on social media. Impressively, they earned one million Instagram followers in just four days, becoming the fastest K-pop group to do so. The septet—Anton, Eunseok, Seunghan, Shotaro, Sohee, Sungchan, and Wonbin—has been generating significant buzz leading up to their debut. To better engage with fans, RIIZE plans to expand their presence on some social media platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, Weibo, and YouTube.

RIIZE, a name derived from the English words ‘Rise’ and ‘Realize,’ refers to a team that grows and realizes dreams collectively. They introduce their unique music genre, ‘Emotional Pop,’ which aims to express their myriad emotions through their songs. As the first rookie boy group launched by SM since NCT‘s debut in 2016, RIIZE is poised to make a significant impact in the K-pop industry.

With their debut single album set to release on August 21st, which includes the title track ‘Get A Guitar’ and the prologue single ‘Memories,’ anticipation is high. Pre-orders for the album are ongoing. As RIIZE continues their journey, fans worldwide eagerly await their official debut and the unique musical experience they promise to deliver. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: RIIZE already has an international fanbase, even if they haven’t officially debuted yet. Isn’t that great? Source: Twitter/@RIIZE_official.