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TWICE’s Jihyo Set for Solo Debut with Mini-Album ‘ZONE’

Jihyo

Jihyo, leader of the popular K-pop girl group TWICE, is preparing to debut as a soloist next month. The singer will release a mini-album titled ZONE, featuring the lead single “Killin’ Me Good.”

She recently unveiled a detailed timetable for her solo debut on TWICE‘s official Twitter account. The timetable includes the release of three spoilers for her single from July 29 to 31. A snippet of the song will follow on August 4. The tracklist for ZONE will come on July 31, with a concept trailer for the album coming on August 2. Lastly, from August 7 to 10, Jihyo will also drop different concept photos.

In the week leading up to the release of ZONE, fans can look forward to two album sneak peeks on August 11 and 16. MV teasers for “Killin’ Me Good” will follow on August 14 and 17. The mini-album’s official release is on August 18 at 1:00 PM KST/12:00 MN EST.

This makes Jihyo the second TWICE member to do a solo project. Vocalist Nayeon was the first to go solo with her EP Im Nayeon and its lead single, the bubbly, infectious “POP!” in June 2022. In a March 2023 interview, member Chaeyoung hinted that the group’s members intend to release more solo projects.

Jihyo marks a significant milestone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_X-gtP-pxs

TWICE‘s latest group release was the mini-album Ready To Be, bannered by the lead single “Set Me Free.” Following its release, the group embarked on a large-scale world tour, starting with a two-night concert in Seoul. The tour’s first leg ended with two well-attended stadium shows in the U.S., one of which saw TWICE become the first K-pop girl group to sell out the MetLife Stadium.

Jihyo‘s solo debut with ZONE and “Killin’ Me Good” is eagerly anticipated by TWICE’s loyal fans, aka ONCE. This release marks a significant milestone in Jihyo‘s career and adds to the growing list of solo projects by TWICE members. It’ll be exciting to see how Jihyo‘s charms and talent will be reflected in her solo work. — K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: In 2021, Jihyo did a solo version of “Crown” by Camila Cabello and Grey. Now she’s releasing original material. Source: YouTube/Twice’s official YouTube channel.

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BTS K-POP ARTISTS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

BTS’s Jimin Receives Gift from Ryan Gosling, Shares Heartfelt Response

An unexpected connection formed between BTS‘s Jimin and Hollywood actor Ryan Gosling, marking a unique crossover between K-pop and Hollywood. Some playful banter about their matching outfits and Jimin’s love for Gosling’s movie The Notebook sparked this connection.

Fans first noticed a striking similarity between Jimin‘s outfit in the “Permission to Dance” MV and Gosling‘s costume in the Barbie movie. Instead of ignoring their comments, Gosling addressed the issue head-on. He acknowledged the resemblance and praised Jimin for wearing the outfit first and best. In a video, Gosling said the “Ken code” dictates that if one Ken copies another’s style, he must offer his most prized possession. In this case, it was Ken’s black-and-white guitar from the Barbie movie.

Jimin, a massive fan of Gosling and his movie The Notebook, was thrilled to receive the guitar. He responded to Gosling‘s video message with his an Instagram reel. In the reel, Jimin thanked Gosling for the guitar and expressed his excitement for the Barbie movie. He congratulated Gosling on the movie’s release and complimented his style.

This interaction delighted fans from the K-pop and Hollywood sectors. It bridged the gap between the two worlds and led to a wholesome exchange between the two stars. Fans are now waiting to see if this unexpected connection will lead to more collaborations or interactions in the future.

Is Jimin a Ryan Gosling fan?

Jimin has expressed admiration for Gosling‘s work, particularly the movie The Notebook. He once wrote on Weverse that he watched it multiple times when he got COVID-19. That doesn’t include all the times he watched it before then. But don’t ask Jimin how many times he has watched it since it was released. He probably lost count already!

This playful exchange between Jimin and Ryan Gosling highlights the potential for connections and friendships to form across different sectors of the global entertainment industry. — K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Lucky Jimin is a successful Ryan Gosling stan. Source: Instagram/Jimin’s personal Instagram account.

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K-POP ARTISTS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

Ex-HYBE Trainee Lee Leo Signs with 131 Label

The K-pop scene is buzzing with excitement as former Trainee A member Lee Leo was revealed to be 131 Label’s newest artist. This revelation confirms previous speculation and marks a new chapter in Leo’s musical journey, a journey that has not been without its share of controversy.

Lee Leo was in Trainee A, a pre-debut group formed in April 2021 by Big Hit Music. Even before joining the group, Leo had begun to make his presence felt in the industry. Notably, he appeared in BTS‘s music video for “Permission to Dance” alongside two girls who later debuted in the girl group NewJeans. This appearance further increased his visibility and fan base.

Trainee A was set to debut, but circumstances took a different turn when Leo faced backlash for a misogynistic song he wrote a while back. The offensive and inappropriate lyrics led to a wave of criticism. Leo and his producers apologized, acknowledging their error in judgment. Ultimately, the backlash was too intense for the boy, and he left the team instead. Following his exit, BigHit Music canceled Trainee A’s debut, leaving fans and the trainees uncertain.

The confirmation of Leo‘s signing with 131 Label sparked fans’ joy. 131 Label revealed the news in a tweet, setting the stage for Leo‘s upcoming debut. However, whether he’ll debut as a soloist or in a group remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, 131 Label, Leo’s new home, underwent significant changes. B.I., who founded it, stepped down from his management position to focus on his music. A new team of industry professionals took over, aiming to fully support B.I. and other artists like  Leo in their creative endeavors.

A heartfelt message for Lee Leo

Following the announcement of Leo‘s signing, Sangwon, one of his former groupmates in Trainee A, posted a heartfelt message on Instagram. The message was translated from Korean to English by a fan and shared on Twitter. Sangwon expressed his admiration for Leo, reminiscing on their shared memories and expressing his belief in Leo‘s future success. Sangwon assured Leo of his continued support and congratulated him on his new journey.

Responding to Sangwon‘s post, Leo expressed his gratitude. He acknowledged his shortcomings and thanked Sangwon for always understanding him. Leo apologized for debuting first and promised to work hard so Sangwon could follow him. He ended his message by expressing love for his friend.

Leo also opened his own SNS accounts, including Instagram, where he left a message for his fans. He expressed excitement about starting fresh as a soloist with 131 Label and shared his new artist profile photos. — K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Leo stans went wild when 131 Label posted his new artist profile photos. Source: Twitter/131 Label’s official Twitter account.

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K-POP ARTISTS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

Enhypen Getting Mobbed at Airport Causes Uproar Among Fans

Fans of K-pop boy group ENHYPEN took to social media to express their outrage at the act’s recent encounter at the Incheon Airport with fans. 

ENHYPEN recently performed at the KPOP LUX festival in Madrid, Spain, and returned to South Korea on Monday, July 24. However, the group was met with an enthusiastic throng of fans at the airport. 

 

In the videos circulating on social media, the crowd flocked the members right after they walked through the airport doors, with some fans even crossing barricades and coming dangerously close to the artists. 

The clips also showed that some of the ENHYPEN members were even getting pushed by the crowd, while others were almost getting separated from the group. Many netizens also pointed out how member Jake is visibly seen aiding Sunoo in navigating the crowd. 

ENGENEs, or fans of ENHYPEN, were immediately infuriated by the incident, calling for tighter security measures from both the group’s agency BELIFT LAB and the airport. 

Fans online also berated the crowd at the airport, saying that their lack of control in handling their excitement harmed the members.

“Jake got pushed, his jacket got grabbed. Even the reporter had to ask him if he was okay. Sunoo got separated from the group at some point. This is terrible. I genuinely feel so frustrated,” one tweet read.

Another wrote, “It’s been 3 years since ENHYPEN is getting mobbed at the airport by fan sites and fans in general, every time. They need to move and do something to protect their artists.” 

“If even the press had to ask the boys whether they’re okay or not there’s something very wrong with the way ‘fans’ are acting. this conversation is getting very tiring,” another fan said. 

https://twitter.com/Bl0bfishSpand3x/status/1683397684999122944

https://twitter.com/heedaze_/status/1683403688453320704

https://twitter.com/Bl0bfishSpand3x/status/1683398576448352256

 

As of writing, BELIFT LAB has yet to address the issue. But it can be recalled that the agency released in September 2020 a fan etiquette guideline after ENHYPEN was also mobbed at the airport following their event on Jeju Island. 

Composed of Jungwon, Heeseung, Jake, Jay, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Ni-ki, ENHYPEN was formed through the reality talent program I-LAND. They made their debut in November 2020, and are known for songs “Drunk-Dazed,” “FEVER,” “Polaroid Love,” and “Future Perfect.” 

ENHYPEN is also set to embark on their second world tour titled FATE, which will kick off on July 29 and 30 at the KSPO Dome in Seoul, South Korea. It will also have stops in Japan and the United States. 

Featured image: ENHYPEN‘s Twitter

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NCT Dream’s ‘ISTJ’ Album Shatters Records

The wildly popular SM Entertainment boy group NCT DREAM did something totally remarkable with their latest album, ISTJ. It sold nearly 3.6 million copies in its first week. This achievement placed NCT Dream in third place for the highest first-week album sales in Hanteo history.

ISTJ, released on July 17, saw an impressive start, with over 1 million sales on the first day of its release. The sales continued to climb in the following days, leading to 3,652,897 copies sold at the end of the first week (July 17 to 23). This was more than double NCT DREAM’s previous first-week sales record of 1,591,021, set by their special mini album Candy. The only albums that outsold ISTJ in the first week are Stray Kids‘ ★★★★★ (5-STAR) and SEVENTEEN‘s FML.

The growing popularity of NCT DREAM

Stray Kids‘ ★★★★★ (5-STAR) sold 4,617,499 copies in the first week (June 2 to 8). That’s more than double their previous first-week sales record. Meanwhile, SEVENTEEN’s FML sold 4,550,214 copies during its first week. That means NCT DREAM’s ISTJ is one of the only albums to have sold over 3.5 million copies in its first week, according to Hanteo data.

Netizens have expressed admiration and excitement for NCT DREAM‘s achievement. 

ISTJ‘s success is proof of NCT DREAM‘s growing popularity and the anticipation surrounding their latest album. With the release of ISTJ, they broke their own record and made an indelible mark in K-pop.

As NCT DREAM rides the wave of their success, fans eagerly await what they’ll do next. For now, there’s ISTJ—a true testament to their talent and the unwavering support of their fans. — K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Member Renjun posted this groufie from Inkigayo. Source: Twitter/NCT DREAM’s official Twitter account.

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Look: Lee Joon Ki at “Arthdal Chronicles 2” Script Reading

tvN has shared photos from the script reading of Arthdal Chronicles: The Sword of Aramoon, the highly-anticipated sequel of the 2019 hit fantasy drama series Arthdal Chronicles. 

Arthdal Chronicles follows the story of warring kingdoms and ancient tribes in the fictional land of Arth during the ancient civilization during the Bronze Age. Its first season had a total of 18 episodes but was released in three parts. 

Song Joong Ki played the twins Eun Seom and Sa Ya in the first season, with Kim Ji Won acting as Tanya. 

However, in the second season, Lee Joon Gi and Shin Se Kyung will be taking over as the older versions of the original characters of Joong Ki and Ji Won, respectively. 

In the photos shared by tvN, only Joon Gi was present in the table reading as Se Kyung had COVID-19 at the time. 

 

Joon Gi was joined by Jang Dong Gun and Kim Ok Bin, who will be reprising their roles as Ta Gon and Tae Al Ha from the first season. 

The upcoming season will reportedly take place roughly a decade after the ending of the first season, wherein Ta Gon remains to be the ruler of the Arthdal Kingdom. 

“The Sword of Aramoon will depict the unavoidable battle between the hero Ta Gon and Eun Seom, who has become a mighty adversary, as well as the entertaining stories that stem from the diverse array of relationships between the characters,” the producers said about the sequel.

“Please look forward to a fierce and desperate war, as well as finding out who will claim Arthdal and become the hero of a new legend in the final act,” they added, as quoted by Soompi. 

Writers Kim Young Hyun and Park Sang Yeon, who both worked in the first season, have returned to write the second season. Meanwhile, Kim Kwang Sik of the movie The Great Battle will be directing. 

Season two of Arthdal Chronicles will premiere in September and will have a total of 12 episodes.

Featured image: tvN’s Twitter

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Fans Enraged After GOT7’s Jackson Wang Got Attacked by Stranger

Fans of Jackson Wang, member of K-pop boy group GOT7, are calling for better security after the Hong Kong rapper-singer was manhandled by a stranger during his recent visit in Thailand. 

The artist, who is currently embarking on his Magic Man world tour, was recently in Thailand for an event. 

Based on the videos circulating on social media, a massive crowd of fans gathered to see Jackson. As he was leaving the event, the idol stopped by his car to greet and wave to his supporters but an unknown female came rushing to approach him and was seen almost embracing him and dragging him out of the car. 

The security staff then pulled the unknown female away from Jackson, and the artist was evidently left in shock by the turn of events, before he tried to process what happened. 

The incident quickly sparked outrage online, with fans expressing their disappointment in the security guards and lamenting the lack of protection for Jackson. 

“How come she was able to get close to him,” one tweet read, while another fans said that the guards “could have done a better job” protecting Jackson. “What if that person was coming to harm him? That is so beyond scary, and seeing the look on Jackson’s face and checking himself.” 

https://twitter.com/DPRjiaer/status/1682747333971255297

 

Some fans also condemned the behavior of the unknown woman, and reminded their fellow fans the importance of giving boundaries to the artists, as these artists are also human beings. 

“Being a celebrity doesn’t make you less human. Just more vulnerable. They should be treated like people,” another said. Another wrote, “Did the person think Jackson will be happy when she does this? Crazy!” 

 

As of writing, Jackson or his management has yet to release a statement about the incident. It also remains unclear what happened to the unknown female stranger. 

Aside from Jackson, another K-pop idol – Jang Wonyoung of girl group IVE was also approached by an unknown child during their recent visit to Madrid.

Since the group’s departure from JYP Entertainment in January 2021, the GOT7 members have signed with different agencies and pursued solo activities. Jackson has been busy releasing albums and touring under his agency Team Wang Records. 

His sophomore album Magic Man was released in September 2022. 

 

In April, he released “Cheetah” and hinted at Magic Man 2, a likely sequel to his 2022 studio album Magic Man. “Magic Man 2, my true self, genuine and unfiltered,” he wrote. But details about his next album have yet to be announced.

Featured image: Jackson Wang’s Twitter

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K-POP ARTISTS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

GOT7’s Jay B Part Ways With Cdnza Records

Singer-songwriter JAY B of K-pop boy group GOT7 is no longer under CDNZA Records. 

The agency announced on Saturday, July 22, that their exclusive contract with JAY B has ended in April. 

CDNZA Records explained that the development was a “mutual agreement” between both parties and that it was done with “much thought and discussion.” They also apologized to the fans for the sudden announcement. 

https://twitter.com/cdnzarecords/status/1682691975710142464

JAY B moved to CDNZA Records in July 2022 as the agency’s first and only artist. Prior to that, JAY B signed with H1GHR Music in May 2021, following GOT7’s departure from JYP Entertainment in January 2021. 

As of writing, JAY B has yet to announce which agency he is moving to as he’s currently serving in the military. He enlisted in the military in February, following the release of his special CD Seasonal Hiatus. 

JAY B, or Lim Jae-bom, is the leader of GOT7. He initially made his debut in 2012 as a member of the duo JJ Project. In January 2014, he, together with Jinyoung, became members of boy group GOT7. The group is known for hits “Hard Carry,”  “NA NA NA,” “Just Right,” “NOT BY THE MOON,” and “You Calling My Name.” 

JAY B made his official debut as a solo artist in May 2021 through the album Switch It Up. 

 

Although the members are now part of different labels, GOT7 assured their fans that they are not disbanding and they have plans to continue working as a group. Currently, most of the G0T7 members are pursuing solo careers, while some members – such as JAY B and Jinyoung – are in the military.

Featured image: CDNZA Records’ Twitter

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Monsta X’s Joohoney Starts Military Service

Joohoney, or Lee Joo-heon, of K-pop boy group MONSTA X has officially started his mandatory military service on Monday, July 24. 

While the exact time and location of his enlistment were kept private, the group’s official social media accounts also shared photos of MONSTA X members Hyungwon, Kihyun, Shownu, and I.M accompanying Joohoney in his enlistment.

“Going full of energy, I’ll come back healthy and safe,” the caption read. 

 

The idol first announced his plans about enlisting in early July, penning a message to their fans. 

Joohoney assured their supporters that he’ll stay safe during his service and will return as a better person, adding that he looks forward to reuniting with both his members and Monbebes, their fans.  “I’m not leaving forever, so please don’t worry about me,” Joohoney wrote then. 

Prior to his enlistment on Monday, Joohoney also took to Instagram on Sunday, July 23, to share photos of his new buzz cut for military training. The singer shared several photos of himself posing with fellow MONSTA X member Hyungwon, as well as a snap of his discarded hair arranged in the shape of a heart. 

Joohoney is expected to complete his basic military training first before being deployed as an active-duty soldier. He will serve for 18 months and is expected to be discharged in January 2025. 

Joohoney is the third member of MONSTA X to enlist in the military, following Shownu and Minhyuk. Shownu, who served as a public service worker, was discharged from the military in April, while Minhyuk enlisted in the same month as an active-duty soldier. 

Composed of Shownu, Minhyuk, Hyungwon, Joohoney, Kihyun, and I.M, MONSTA X made their debut in May 2015. The group is known for their hits “Love Killa,” “Hero,” “Shoot Out,” “Dramarama,” “Gambler,” and “Beautiful Liar.” Their last full comeback was in January with the mini-album Reason. 

With members enlisting in military services, MONSTA X has focused on solo and sub-unit activities: I.M made his solo comeback in June with the mini-album Overdrive, while members Shownu and Hyungwon are set to make their sub-unit debut on July 25 with The Unseen. 

Even Joohoney also made his solo debut as an artist prior to his enlistment. He released the album  Lights in May. 

Featured image: MONSTA X’s Twitter

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LATEST STORIES

Watch: Park SEO Joon Briefly Appears in New “The Marvels” Trailer

We’re one step closer to seeing South Korean actor Park Seo Joon’s highly-anticipated Hollywood debut. 

Marvel Studios released on Friday, July 21, the main trailer for The Marvels, its upcoming sequel to the 2019 film Captain Marvel. 

The movie sees Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan, and Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeua team up to save the universe together. Samuel L. Jackson is also confirmed to reprise his role as Nick Fury. 

In the newly-released clip, Park once again makes a brief appearance — this time, as a dance partner for Larson’s Carol Danvers. 

It can be recalled that Marvel Studios already released a short teaser for the movie in April, wherein fans were able to get a first look at Park’s character. There, he’s seen sporting a shoulder-length hairstyle and engaging in a battle cry. 

While Marvel Studios has yet to confirm Park’s role in the movie, fans have 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 an interview with The Guardian, the Korean actor opened up how it’s like working with Marvel Studios. 

“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. 

Park also added that the other cast members and crew helped him find his footing in the Hollywood film. “I did feel some nerves at first. But everyone was so helpful and welcoming that I was able to find my feet really quickly,” he said. 

Park’s involvement in the movie was first confirmed in September 2021, but his agency Awesome ENT also declined to comment about Park’s role in the film. He is the third Korean actor to star in a Marvel movie, following Claudia Kim and Ma Dong Seok. 

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

Featured image: Marvel Studios’ YouTube

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