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ZEROBASEONE Achieves Double Million-Seller Status with Debut Album

ZEROBASEONE

Rookie group ZEROBASEONE has taken the music scene by storm with their record-breaking debut album. As of September 30, their album YOUTH IN THE SHADE has sold an impressive 2,034,594 copies since its release in July. This monumental feat positions them as the first K-pop group to sell over 2 million copies of a debut album.

They’ve also earned a spot on the elite list of artists acknowledged by Circle Chart for selling more than 2 million copies of a single album. Fans have even more to anticipate, as ZEROBASEONE is set to make a comeback with their second mini-album, MELTING POINT, on November 6.

Previously, ZEROBASEONE had already made waves by becoming the first K-pop group to sell over a million copies of their debut album in a single day, as reported by Hanteo Chart. On July 4, the group surpassed 1.08 million stock pre-orders for YOUTH IN THE SHADE. In doing so, they broke a record set by SECHSKIES in 1997, becoming the first K-pop group to record one million pre-orders for a debut album in over two decades. They achieved this feat 13 days after pre-orders began and five days before their official debut.

Congratulations, ZEROBASEONE!

The group’s soaring popularity during their pre-order phase led many to predict they would cross a million sales with their debut album. This prediction came true on July 10 when the album’s sales hit the one million mark in just nine hours on the Hanteo charts. By the end of their debut day, sales had reached 1.2 million.

ZEROBASEONE was formed on Mnet’s Boys Planet, a successor to Girls Planet 999. Although Boys Planet came after Girls Planet 999, it still garnered significant attention. The presence of popular contestants like Kim Jiwoong, known for being an OTT actor, and Chinese music prodigy Zhang Hao helped. Both made it to the final lineup of ZEROBASEONE.

Mnet unveiled the final lineup on April 20 during the Boys Planet finale. It included Sung Hanbin, Seok Matthew, Ricky, Park Gunwook, Kim Taerae, Kim Gyuvin, and Han Yujin. These talented boys went on to break one record after another. Congrats, ZEROBASEONE! – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: If any group deserves the ‘monster rookie’ title, it’s this one! Source: X/@GLOBALBASEONE.

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Look: EXO’s Chanyeol Drops Teaser for ‘Good Enough’

EXO releases the first teaser of Chanyeol's digital single 'Good Enough.' Credit: Twitter/EXO

The long wait is almost over, EXO-Ls! Chanyeol of K-pop group EXO has been confirmed to return with new solo music. 

On Monday, October 16, SM Entertainment announced that the rapper will be releasing the digital single “Good Enough” on October 20. 

In the first teaser released, Chanyeol is seen playing a Jenga game. But the overall aesthetic of the teaser appears to be more retro-themed. 

According to a Naver report, “Good Enough” is a synth-pop song with a rhythmic synthesizer line. It reportedly aims to give fans a sense of comfort as it will tackle the challenges everyone faces to achieve their dreams. 

Moreover, Chanyeol wrote the lyrics for “Good Enough.”

Following the news, fans have expressed their excitement for it as “Good Enough” will serve as Chanyeol’s first solo offering in two years and a half. He last released the single “Tomorrow” through SM STATION in April 2021.

Since then, he enlisted in the military and finished his service in September 2022. 

Look back on the career of Chanyeol 

Chanyeol made his debut as a member of EXO under SM Entertainment in 2012. In July, the group released their seventh full-length album EXIST in July. It served as EXO’s first album as a full-group in two years.

Together with member Sehun, Chanyeol formed the sub-unit EXO-SC in 2019. The duo is known for songs “What a Life,” “1 Billion Views,” and “Rodeo Station.” 

As a solo artist, he released his first single “Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter (SSFW)” in 2019. 

Outside of EXO, Chanyeol has also participated in various collaborations and singing of K-drama OSTs. For instance, he collaborated with Super Junior’s Yesung for “Confession,” Heize for “Don’t Make Me Money,” and Junggigo for “Let Me Love You.” 

In terms of OSTs, he recorded “Stay with Me” with Punch for the drama Goblin and “Go Away Go Away” with Punch again for Dr. Romantic 2. 

Given his wide range of releases, fans of Chanyeol are looking forward to his upcoming new music.

Featured image: EXO releases the first teaser of Chanyeol’s digital single ‘Good Enough.’ Credit: Twitter/EXO

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WayV to Release ‘On My Youth’ in November

WayV releases the digital single 'Welcome to my Paradise.' Credit: Facebook/WayV

Mark your calendars, Weyshennies! WayV, NCT’s China-based unit, is about to make their first comeback in almost 11 months. 

On Monday, October 16, SM Entertainment announced that the group is gearing up for their second full length-album On My Youth. 

According to a Naver report, the album will have a total of 10 songs of various genres. Its title track will have the same title as the album. 

Notably, all tracks will be released on digital platforms on November 1. But the physical album will only be available starting November 8. 

To note, On My Youth will serve as the group’s first album since their fourth EP Phantom came out in December 2022. 

Moreover, this will also mark WayV’s first comeback since member Lucas officially confirmed his exit from the group in May.

According to SM Entertainment, Lucas parted ways with NCT and WayV to pursue his individual endeavors. To recall, Lucas had been on hiatus since August 2021 after he was embroiled in cheating and gaslighting controversies. Following the news, he penned a letter to fans, saying that he was sorry to the members. 

With this, WayV has continued activities with the remaining six members: Kun, Hendery, Yangyang, Xiaojun, Ten, and Winwin. 

Also in May, the group released the digital single “Welcome to My Paradise.” 

2023 for WayV

In line with the release of their fourth EP, WayV also held their fan meeting tour Phantom. Between February to August, the group staged shows across several stops in Asia and Europe. 

In August, WayV also participated in the full group comeback of NCT. Aside from the release of their album Golden Age, the SM Entertainment act also held their first concert as a full group titled NCT Nation: To the World. 

WayV debuted in January 2019. The group is known for songs “Kick Back,” “Love Talk,” “Turn Back Time,” and “Miracle.” 

Featured image: WayV releases the digital single ‘Welcome to my Paradise.’ Credit: Facebook/WayV

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BLINKS Celebrate as BLACKPINK’s ‘Born Pink’ Tour Sets New Record

BLACKPINK recently made history when their ‘Born Pink’ World Tour became the highest-grossing K-pop tour ever. This achievement positions them as the first and only Asian act to hold this record. The data, encompassing net profit, seat occupancy, and ticket sales across global venues, showcases remarkable figures.

@kmlsoo27

BLACKPINK’s ‘BORN PINK WORLD TOUR’ is officially the highest-grossing tour by an Asian act in HISTORY, with a reported $260,597,475 earned from 56/68 shows and counting. #blackpink #bornpinkworldtour #blackpinkinyourarea #fyp

♬ How You Like That – BLACKPINK

TouringData, an independent platform that reports on concert grosses and live entertainment information, confirmed that ‘Born Pink’ amassed over 260.6 million USD in profits. The tour reportedly sold 1,485,245 tickets, with an average revenue of 4,653,526 USD per show and an average ticket price of 175.46 USD. These figures are based on 56 of the recorded 66 concerts from the tour.

The North American leg of the ‘Born Pink’ World Tour generated 51,280,096 USD from 14 shows. In Europe, the group earned 24,878,954 USD from 10 shows. In the Asia sub-continent, the girls made a staggering 164,460,142 USD from all 30 shows. Two shows in Latin America contributed 19,978,283 USD. 

The BLACKPINK members’ monumental success

Once their last ten shows—including some of their biggest encore shows—are taken into account, their total earnings might well exceed 300 million USD. This would make the ‘Born Pink’ World Tour one of the most successful tours by any female musical artist ever. BLINKs expressed their joy on social media, celebrating BLACKPINK‘s monumental success.

https://www.tiktok.com/@sir_ge/video/7289789560635149574?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=6908322787502065153

According to a YG Entertainment report on September 20, the ‘Born Pink’ World Tour attracted 1.8 million spectators across 66 shows in 34 global locations. Including the Coachella and Hyde Park concert attendance, the total audience count rises to 2.11 million. The tour kicked off in Seoul in October 2022, drawing 55,000 attendees. It then attracted 540,000 fans in North America, 55,000 in Australia, and 215,000 in Europe. Notably, 900,000 attendees came from Asia alone.

In related news, each BLACKPINK member, namely Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa, and Rosé, recently achieved a total of 10 million Spotify listeners per month through their solo releases. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Wow! The ‘Born Pink’ World Tour broke yet another record. Source: X/@BLACKPINKSTATS5.

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Look: ENHYPEN to Return With ‘Orange Blood’

ENHYPEN shares a behind-the-scene photo from a magazine shoot. Credit: Facebook/ENHYPEN

Save the date, ENGENEs! K-pop boy group ENHYPEN is set to make their highly-anticipated comeback on November 17 with the release of Orange Blood. 

On Monday, October 16, agency BELIFT LAB confirmed that the septet is gearing up for their new extended play. This will serve as ENHYPEN’s return in just five months. 

In line with the announcement, HYBE LABELS also posted a 25-second logo trailer for Orange Blood. To note, HYBE acquired the full rights of BELIFT LAB in August. 

As for the logo trailer, it opens with a scene of a solar eclipse. Then, the phrase “You and I are connected through blood” flashed on the screen. Next, a montage of scenic videos appeared before the “Orange Blood” logo appeared. 

Additionally, ENHYPEN has also released the promotional schedule for Bad Blood. According to the calendar, the group will release a mood film on top of the usual concept trailers, photos, previews, and track list. Moreover, there will also be an activity called “Orange Blood EN-Connect” night set for November 18. Although details about it weren’t provided. 

As of writing, additional details about Orange Blood, such as the number of songs and its title track, have yet to be announced. 

Notably, Orange Blood will serve as a follow-up to the group’s EP Dark Blood. Released in May, the album carried the hit song “Bite Me” for its title track. 

Furthermore, Dark Blood set several personal records for the group. For instance, it’s the first album of the group to sell 1.1 million copies on the first day of its release. On top of that, it also recorded 1.32 million copies for its first tracking week. 

2023 highlights for ENHYPEN aside from ‘Orange Blood’ 

On top of their achievements with their music releases, 2023 is also shaping to be an impressive year for ENHYPEN on other aspects about their career. And what makes these milestones more memorable is that the group achieved them in less than three years into their debut. 

One of which is their recent 10th gold disk certification in Japan. According to the Japan Record Association, the group’s third Japanese single, “結-YOU-,” was certified Double Platinum.

Moreover, ENHYPEN is also making waves in the fashion industry. 

In June 2023, the “Drunk-Dazed” singers became brand ambassadors for the fashion luxury brand Prada. Then, the group also became ambassadors for the Seoul Fashion Week. 

In line with being brand ambassadors for Prada, ENHYPEN also appeared at the Milan Fashion Week. There, the group reportedly generated a 7 million USD in Media Impact Value.

Currently, ENHYPEN is also embarking on their second world concert tour, FATE. 

Featured image: ENHYPEN shares a behind-the-scene photo from a magazine shoot. Credit: Facebook/ENHYPEN

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LE SSERAFIM Stuns in Concept Photos for ‘Perfect Night’

LE SSERAFIM to return with 'Perfect Night.' Credit: Twitter/SOURCE Music

K-pop girl group LE SSERAFIM is returning with new music titled “Perfect Night.”

Source Music announced that “Perfect Night” will serve as the group’s first English-language single. 

Previously, the quintet’s only all-English track was the hit song “Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife.”

Despite being a B-track from the group’s Unforgiven album, it easily became a fan-favorite. Not only did LE SSERAFIM have to release a full English version of it, but it also spawned remixes with international stars such as Rina Sawayama, Upsahi, BIBI, Mirani, Camo, and Demi Lovato. 

While its success might be hard to follow through, LE SSERAFIM appears to be ready to take on the challenge. And their fans are already anticipating the upcoming single as it’s the group’s first release in five months. 

What we know about ‘Perfect Night’

In a press release, Source Music announced that ‘Perfect Night’ will “send an energetic message that even a not-so-perfect day can be fun when you spend it with your crew.”

Prior to the confirmation of the single, LE SSERAFIM also released a cryptic teaser for the track. There, a pink convertible is seen speeding along a race track. Then, the phrase “Tonight, I don’t care what’s wrong or right” appeared onscreen. 

On Monday, October 15, the “ANTI-FRAGILE” singers released the first set of individual and group photos for ‘Perfect Night.’ 

Similar to the vibes of the video teaser, the LE SSERAFIM members mixed sporty and futuristic themes in the photos. Overall, the pictures followed a neon pink, blue, and silver scheme. 

 

Meanwhile, track samplers and music video teasers will be available to the fans before the track’s official release on October 27. 

‘Perfect Night’ comes after LE SSERAFIM was supposed to wrap up their first concert tour FLAME RISES. However, their Bangkok show had to be canceled as three members were diagnosed with Type A influenza. 

In other news, LE SSERAFIM was also recently chosen as brand ambassadors for the fashion luxury house Louis Vuitton. Interestingly, they’re the first K-pop girl group to be tapped as a full act by the brand.  

Featured image: LE SSERAFIM to return with ‘Perfect Night.’ Credit: Twitter/SOURCE Music

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BTS K-POP ARTISTS KPOP ALBUMS LATEST STORIES

BTS’ Jungkook Reveals Star-Studded Track List for ‘Golden’

BTS' Jungkook poses for the concept photo of his album 'Golden.' Credit: Twitter/BIGHIT Music

Attention, ARMYs! The anticipation for the solo debut album of BTS member Jungkook just got higher as the track list for Golden was unveiled on Monday, October 16. 

The 11-track album was earlier confirmed to include Jungkook’s previously released singles “Seven” and “3D.” 

In July, the BTS member released “Seven,” which featured American rapper-singer Latto. Its explicit version achieved two Guinness World Records. First, it’s recognized as the  most streamed track on Spotify in one week by a male artist and the other record is about having the fastest time for a music track by a male artist to reach 100 million Spotify streams.

Meanwhile, “3D,” which featured American rapper Jack Harrow was released in September. 

More collaboration for Jungkook

Based on the track list for Golden, Jungkook will continue his trajectory of collaborating with international stars. 

Among the 11 songs, “Standing Next To You” will serve as a title track. It is co-produced by Andrew Watt and Cirkut. 

Notably, music producer DJ Snake and Jamaican American trio Major Lazer will feature in tracks “Please Don’t Change” and “Closer To You,” respectively. 

For those unfamiliar, DJ Snake has previously worked with the likes of Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Cardi B, and more. Meanwhile, Major Lazer has also previously worked with Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and Machel Montano. 

As for other production and songwriting credits, English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is credited in the track “Yes or No,” while Canadian singer Shawn Mendes collaborated in the song “Hate You.” 

Notably, David Stewart, one of the writers of BTS’ hit song “Dynamite,” collaborated with Jungkook anew. For golden, he contributed to two songs: “Shot Glass of Tears” and “Too Sad to Dance.” 

A Golden era awaits! 

Following the release of the track list, ARMYs couldn’t help but express their excitement for the upcoming songs. 

Given the big names of collaborators, many are looking forward to how Jungkook will put his own flavor to each track. 

Some are also amazed at the amount of artists working together for Golden, saying that it’s already shaping to be a huge album even before its release. 

 

Thankfully, fans wouldn’t have to wait for long to get a taste of these tracks. According to his promotional schedule, a new track from Golden will be released daily between October 20 to 30. Then, a teaser for the title track will be released on November 2.  

Meanwhile, the official music video and the album will be available starting November 3. 

BIGHIT Music first confirmed on October 3 that Jungkook will be releasing his solo album Golden. 

“GOLDEN is an album inspired by the golden moments of Jungkook, the golden maknae of BTS and a solo artist,” the agency said in a press release. “Through this album, Jungkook will be able to show his identity and color to the fullest.”

In 2023 alone, Jungkook is the fourth BTS member to release a solo album. To note, Jimin’s Face was released in March, Suga’s D-Day in April, and V’s Layover in September. 

Featured image: BTS’ Jungkook poses for the concept photo of his album ‘Golden.’ Credit: Twitter/BIGHIT Music

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Look: ‘The Marvels’ Releases Character Poster for Park Seo Joon

Marvel Studios releases the character posters for 'The Marvels.' Credit: Twitter/Marvel Studios

The highly-anticipated Hollywood debut of South Korean actor Park Seo Joon is almost here! On Monday, October 16, Marvel Studios released the character posters for the lead cast of The Marvels.

Among those featured were Seo Joon’s character Prince Yan. Interestingly, this marks the first time for Marvel Studios to confirm the role of Seo Joon in the film. 

In the poster, the actor appeared regal wearing a maroon top while sporting long hair. 

The Marvels will revolve around Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan, and Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeua teaming up to save the universe together.

Samuel L. Jackson is also confirmed to reprise his role as Nick Fury. Serving as a sequel to the 2019 film Captain Marvel, The Marvels will premiere on November 10.

Park Seo Joon in ’The Marvels’ 

Seo Joon’s involvement in the movie was first confirmed in September 2021, but his agency Awesome ENT declined to comment about his role in the film. 

Although several teasers have already been released for The Marvels, the Korean star only made brief appearances on them. But fans have long been hypothesizing that he will be playing Prince Yan of Aldana, a love interest of Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers. 

In the Marvels comics, Carol went to the planet Aldana to help Prince Yan get out of an arranged marriage, only for her to end up as his bride. 

In a previous interview with The Guardian, Seo Joon has opened up about his participation in The Marvels movie. 

“When I first heard that the Marvel Cinematic Universe wanted to speak with me, I couldn’t believe it. I actually couldn’t believe it,” he was quoted as saying. 

Additionally, Seo Joon revealed that he felt nervous at first since he had no prior experience filming a Hollywood film. But he said that the cast and crew were “helpful and welcoming” when he was working on his scenes. 

He is the third Korean actor to star in a Marvel movie, following Claudia Kim and Ma Dong Seok. 

In terms of his Korean projects, Park is known for his roles in Itaewon Class, She Was Pretty, Fight For My Way, What’s  Wrong with Secretary Kim, and Dream.

Featured image: Marvel Studios releases the character posters for ‘The Marvels.’ Credit: Twitter/Marvel Studios

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FSS Seeks Arrest Warrants for Kakao Staff Amid SM Stock Probe

The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) has taken a significant step in the ongoing investigation into the alleged stock price manipulation of SM Entertainment. Arrest warrants have been requested for three key employees of Kakao and its subsidiary, Kakao Entertainment.

The Capital Market Special Judicial Police, a division of the FSS, announced their intention to seek the arrest of three individuals, including Bae Jae-hyun, the head of Kakao’s investment division. This action is based on charges related to violations of the Capital Market Act, specifically allegations of stock price manipulation. The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office also requested warrants for Bae Jae-hyun and the heads of investment strategy of Kakao and Kakao Entertainment.

Historically, arrest warrants in such cases indicate a belief that the suspect might be a danger to the community or a potential flight risk. A notable instance from the past is the 2002 case of Lee Soo-man, who fled South Korea after accusations of embezzlement and tax evasion. The president pardoned him in 2007 after finding him guilty.

The Kakao execs’ representatives respond

The crux of the current investigation revolves around suspicions that these individuals spent a staggering 240 billion KRW to inflate SM Entertainment’s stock prices artificially. This purported manipulation aimed to surpass the public purchase price offered by HYBE, a rival in the bid for SM Entertainment’s management rights. The Special Judicial Police also highlighted that the suspects failed to report their significant stock holdings in SM Entertainment.

The accused’s legal representatives countered these allegations. They stated, “The stock purchases were legitimate efforts to secure a stake in SM Entertainment during the competitive bid against HYBE. There was no manipulation of stock prices.” They also expressed regret over the arrest warrant requests, emphasizing that no harm was done to any stakeholders, including minor shareholders of both HYBE and SM Entertainment. They vowed to clarify all charges in court.

Earlier this year, a dispute arose between HYBE and Kakao over the acquisition of SM Entertainment. HYBE had raised concerns about irregular purchasing activities and sought an investigation from the FSS. While Kakao eventually emerged as SM’s largest shareholder, suspicions of stock price manipulation and other legal violations persisted, leading to the ongoing investigation. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: The FSS is on the warpath against Kakao. Source: The Korea Times.

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Nam Yoon Su Joins ‘Love in the Big City’ Adaptation

Actor Nam Yoon-su is preparing for a new project. The film Love in the Big City is slated for a 2024 release. It’s based on Park Sang-young’s novel. The story follows the free-spirited Jae-hee and her gay BFF, Heung-soo, as they navigate life and love in Seoul. The novel received nominations for the Booker Prize and the International Dublin Literary Prize. It’s popular in South Korea and beyond, boasting nine printings so far.

Nam Yoon-su displayed his versatility as an actor through his roles in Beyond Evil, Extracurricular, The King’s Affection, Today’s Webtoon, and more. He last appeared in Soulmate alongside Jeon So-nee and Kim Da-mi in March 2023. Fans eagerly await his performance in this unique film.

Joining him are Goblin star Kim Go-eun and Pachinko actor Noh Sang-hyun. Kim Go-eun debuted in 2012 with A Muse and has since been part of hits like Guardian: The Lonely and Great God and Little Women. Meanwhile, Noh Sang-hyun started as a model before breaking into acting with 2015’s The Wicked Are Alive.

What has Nam Yoon-su gotten into?

The film adaptation will receive 1.5 billion won in OTT production support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Love in the Big City will also be adapted into an eight-episode drama by production houses Big Stone Studio and Merry Christmas. They aim to release it in the latter half of 2024.

Film production is progressing smoothly, with PlusM securing funding from a domestic start-up company specializing in video investment. Michigan Venture Capital has reportedly invested 2 billion KRW out of the total production cost of approximately 6 billion KRW. However, due to its theme, the drama adaptation faces challenges in securing investors.

Negotiations with several OTT platforms are ongoing. However, concerns about external image and public opinion, particularly related to HIV and same-sex relationships between men, have made securing funding more challenging. If the drama’s production experiences delays, there is speculation that its central theme might need to be changed. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Nam Yoon-su will show a new side of himself in this project. Source: X/@baywings.

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