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BTS Fans, ARMY, Lauded for Cleaning Up After Massive Anniversary Event

The dedicated fanbase of the global K-pop sensation BTS, known as ARMY, has been praised for behaving responsibly after the boy group’s 10th anniversary celebration. The fans cleaned the venue after the event, displaying a high level of responsibility and respect for public spaces.

On June 17th, BTS celebrated their 10th debut anniversary with a massive event called 2023 BTS 10th Anniversary Festa @ Yeouido held at Hangang Park in Seoul. The event attracted an estimated 400,000 people, including 120,000 international fans, according to HYBE, the group’s management company. Despite the massive gathering, the venue was left spotless because of ARMY’s concerted efforts.

BTS‘s leader, RM, took to Instagram to express his gratitude towards the fans and staff members for what they did at Hangang Park. He posted a screenshot of a news article about the cleanup on his Instagram Story and thanked the ARMY and the staff for their efforts. “To all the staff, and proud ARMYs, Thank You,” he wrote.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5tIjGSJI_kU

In an interview with Korean media, a street cleaner confirmed the fans’ efforts. “We were tasked to clean the place by 12 o’clock, but there was no trash left,” they said.

The fans’ initiative to clean up after the event was widely praised by netizens. Photos of the clean venue went viral on social media. 

ARMY’s actions sparked a wave of positive comments online, with many expressing their admiration for what the fans did.

ARMY’s actions reflect not only their dedication to BTS but also their commitment to maintaining order in public spaces, setting a good example for fans worldwide. The 10th-anniversary celebration of BTS was proof of the band’s enduring global popularity and their fans’ maturity. The event was so well-managed that it made headlines in South Korea and beyond.

This isn’t the first time ARMY was lauded for cleanliness. In October 2022, some fans organized a fantastic event to celebrate BTS member Jimin‘s 27th birthday. They gathered at Gwangali Beach in Busan for what they dubbed a “plogging” program, an activity that combined picking up trash with jogging. A nonprofit organization called EARTH SAVE spearheaded the project. After clearing the beach of litter, ARMYs gathered for a photo session and shouted, “We purple Busan.”

Busan, being the hometown of Jimin and Jungkook, made that project more meaningful.

(Featured Image: The official BTS Twitter account run by the group’s label posted a photo of RM in Hangang Park on the day of the event. Source: Twitter/BTS’s official Twitter account)

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LATEST STORIES VARIETY

Watch: Netflix Releases Teaser for Variety Series ‘Zombieverse’

Will you be able to survive a zombie apocalypse? Netflix’s upcoming survival variety series Zombieverse will put that to a test! 

On Monday, July 10, Netflix released a 40-second teaser, showing the cast running across the streets of Seoul, South Korea as they try to survive against a throng of zombies. 

Think of it as a mix of Netflix’s previous zombie-themed series such as Kingdom and All of Us Are Dead and reality survival shows Physical 100 and Siren: Survive the Island.

 

In the teaser, a voiceover is heard saying that “multiple patients” are coming down with an “unknown infection” and they are showing “unusual, violent symptoms.” 

The contestants will then try to work through a variety of challenges while trying to avoid being bitten by the undead attackers. 

The teaser also provided a first look at some of the contestants, which include comedian Park Na Rae, rapper DinDin, former baseball pitcher Yoo Hee Kwan, Kim Jin Young from Single’s Inferno 2, Tsuki of girl group Billie, television personalities Jonathan and Patricia Yiombi. 

Park Jin-kyung of My Little Television and Hey! First Time in Korea?’s Moon Sang-don are in charge of helming Zombieverse. 

“There will be new zombies, survivors and unique scenes, which have not been seen in the existing zombie-themed projects,” Park said about the project in a press release.

Zombieverse will have eight episodes and will premiere on August 8. 

Meanwhile, Netflix also recently confirmed that the second season for the hit survival thriller series Squid Game is in the works.

Featured image: Netflix News’ Facebook

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KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

Look: BB Girls Unveils New Photos, Logo and Social Media Accounts

We’re entering a new era with BB GIRLS, formerly known as K-pop girl group Brave Girls! 

On Monday, July 10, BB GIRLS unveiled their new group logo and launched new social media accounts.

 

They also released a set of new photos for each members. Minyoung, Youjuong, Eunji, and Yuna showcased a mature and sophisticated look while posing in monochromatic ensembles. 

 

 

This came after Minyoung, Youjuong, Eunji, and Yuna signed with Warner Music Korea in April following the expiration of their exclusive contracts with Brave Entertainment. 

Brave Entertainment initially announced that Brave Girls has officially disbanded. But after moving as a full group in Warner Music Korea, the agency announced that the members will continue their activities under the name BB GIRLS as their former label still own the trademark rights for the group’s first name. 

Warner Music Korea also confirmed that BB Girls will be making an August comeback, but additional details, such as album title and release date, have yet to be announced. 

Brave Girls debuted in 2011 and had several changes in their member line-up over the years. The group gained massive popularity in 2021 after their 2017 track “Rollin’.” went viral. Their last album with Brave Entertainment was Summer Queen, which was released in September 2021. 

Featured image: collage from BB GIRLS’ Twitter

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LATEST STORIES

Park BO Gum to Make Musical Debut With ‘Let Me Fly’

South Korean actor Park Bo Gum will be starring in his first musical! 

On Monday, July 10, the musical Let Me Fly released their cast lineup for their production. 

Bo Gum is confirmed to be playing the role of young Nam Won along with musical actors Ahn Ji Hwan and Shin Jae Beom.

Let Me Fly is about Nam Won who lives in 1969 and eventually wakes up as a 70-year-old grandfather in the year 2022. He struggles to return to the past where his love interest lives. It won Best Musical, Best Composition and Best New Actor and was nominated for the Grand Prize, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Arrangement/Music Director during the 2022 Korea Musical Awards. 

Other confirmed cast members include Kim Tae Hwan, Kim Do Bin, Lee Hyung Hoon, Bang Jin Ui, Yoon Gong Joo, Choi Soo Jin, Na Ha Na, Hong Ji Hee, and Im Ye Jin. 

 

Let Me Fly will have shows from September 26 to December 10. 

While Let Me Fly will serve as Bo Gum’s first foray into the musical genre, the actor graduated as a musical theater major in Seoul’s Myeongji University. He also studied the piano and was a choir member in kindergarten. 

Bo Gum is best known for his roles in dramas Record of Youth, Love in the Moonlight, Reply 1988, and Encounter. He is also confirmed to star in the upcoming Netflix film Wonderland with Suzy, Choi Wooshik, Jung Yu Mi, and Tang Wei. 

Featured image: Let Me Fly’s Twitter

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K-DRAMA KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

Here Are the K-Drama and K-Pop Documentaries Coming to Disney+ for the Rest of 2023

Hallyu fans have a lot of things to look forward to in Disney+ as the streaming platform unveiled on Tuesday, July 11, its slate of Asia-Pacific originals for the remaining half of 2023. 

The Korean projects included in Disney’s lineup are: 

  • Moving, a fantasy-action series which follows a group of superpowered individuals as they attempt to run away from government personnel and a mysterious assassin. It is based on the hit webtoon of author Kangfull, and stars Ryu Seungryong, Han Hyojoo and Jo In Sung. Moving will premiere in Disney+ on August 9. 
  • Worst of Evil, an action series starring Ji Chang Wook, Wi Ha Jun, and Lim Semi. It is set in 1990s Seoul where a rural police officer is recruited to track a gang that pushes a new drug in the city’s nightclubs. 
  • Vigilante, a crime drama series that follows a star student at the police academy who uses his knowledge to exact revenge on non-repentant offenders. 
  • Han River Police, a comedy action series starring Kwone Sangwoo and Kim Hiiewon, revolves around the works and antics of Seoul’s Han River Police Force. 
  • Soundtrack #2, a sequel to the 2022 series Soundtrack #1, will feature a new storyline between an ex-couple who got reconnected again after ending their six-year relationship. It stars Keum Saerok and Steve Sanghyun Noh. 

Disney+ has yet to announce the release dates for the other titles. 

Meanwhile, Disney+ also confirmed that they’ll be releasing the much-anticipated BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star in the second half of 2023. Although a final release date has yet to be announced, the docu-series was first teased by Disney+ in November 2022. 

 

BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star will chronicle the idol group’s journey to being pop icons through “unprecedented access to a vast library of music and footage over the past nine years.” 

In the series’ teaser, V teased that it will “share candid stories that have never been told.” “I hope you find new sides of us that are previously unseen,” Jungkook added. 

While BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star is their first docu-series as a full group under Disney+, the streaming platform has previously released several content related to BTS, including Permission to Dance LA stage movie, Suga’s Road to D-Day,and  j-hope’s Jack in the Box documentaries. 

Aside from BTS, Disney+ will also be releasing documentaries for K-pop groups Tomorrow X Together and NCT 127. 

BTS also recently released the memoir Beyond The Story: 10-year record of BTS.

Featured image: BTS’ Facebook

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KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

Zerobaseone’s ‘Youth in the Shade’ Becomes Best-Selling K-Pop Debut Album

The highly-anticipated debut of rookie group ZEROBASEONE (ZB1), the K-pop boy group formed through the reality survival series BOYS PLANET, is off to a good start. 

On Monday, July 10, the nine-member group released their mini-album YOUTH IN THE SHADE, with “IN BLOOM” as its title track. 

The music video for “IN BLOOM” shows the ZB1 members flaunting their fresh charms and vocal prowess as they sing about their determination to do well in this new journey they’re embarking on. 

 

During their debut showcase, the members talked about their resolve as a rookie group. 

“We will become an artist who can give back the love we have received,” member Kim Tae Rae, according to a translation by Soompi. 

Member Kim Ji Woong added: “We feel a greater sense of responsibility, so we hope to show that going forward to return the love and show our best performance.” 

And in just 24 hours of sales, the album YOUTH IN THE SHADE has sold over 1,240,700 copies, making it the best debut album in K-pop history. 

The record was previously set by X1’s QUANTUM LEAP, which sold around 500,000 copies during its first day. 

In addition, YOUTH IN THE SHADE has also become the fifth highest-selling album in first-sales day in 2023. They trail behind SEVENTEEN’s FML, Stray Kids’ 5-STAR, TXT’s The Name Chapter: TEMPTATION, and aespa’s MY WORLD. 

However, there’s a damper on the group and fandom’s celebration as member Kim Gyu Vin had to take a break due to his health condition. 

WAKEONE Entertainment, ZEROBASEONE’s agency, announced on Tuesday, July 11, that Kim Gyu Vin is “experiencing dizziness.” 

They added that said member will visit the hospital for a thorough examination and treatment. 

ZEROBASEONE or ZB1 is composed of Sung Han-bin, Kim Ji-woong, Zhang Hao, Seok Matthew, Kim Tae-rae, Ricky, Kim Gyu-vin, Park Gun-wook, and Han Yu-jin. 

They’re a project group that will promote under WakeOne Entertainment, a CJ ENM subsidiary, for around two and a half years. 

Boys Planet, which premiered in February and ran for 12 weeks, served as the sequel to the 2021 reality competition Girls Planet 999. Said series formed the girl group KEP1ER. 

WakeOne Entertainment, in partnership with Mnet, also recently announced that they’ll be forming a new girl group through the audition program I-LAND 2.

Featured image: ZEROBASEONE’s Twitter

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K-POP ARTISTS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

Exo Sets New Personal Record With ‘Exist’

The wait is over, EXO-Ls! K-pop powerhouse EXO made their highly-anticipated comeback on Monday, July 10 with their seventh full-length album EXIST. 

EXO also released on Monday the music video for its title track “Cream Soda,” a dance-pop song with heavy brass and drum sounds. 

The music video of “Cream Soda” only featured members Suho, Xiumin, Chen, Baekhyun, Chanyeol, D.O., and Suho. 

 

Member Kai, who enlisted in May, was absent. But he was present in the music videos of the two earlier released songs “Hear Me Out” and “Let Me In.” 

EXIST, which has a total of nine tracks, also includes songs “Regret It,” “Private Party,” “Cinderella,” “No Make Up,” “Love Fool,” and “ Another Day.” 

Within hours of its release, EXIST recorded a total of 1,074,914 sales, making it EXO’s highest first day sales. It’s also the first album of the group to surpass 1 million first-week sales. 

Meanwhile, “Cream Soda” placed no 1. on the worldwide ITunes song chart after topping the chart in more than 60 countries on its first day. 

 

EXIST served as EXO’s first album as a full-group in two years, following the extended play Don’t Fight This Feeling that was released in June 2021. 

The group comeback came after three members – Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin – had a legal dispute with agency SM Entertainment about their settlements. The two parties reached an agreement in June, saying that they’ve resolved their differences and agreed to continue their activities as EXO. 

Aside from the new album, EXO is also confirmed to star in a new reality show. 

Originally a 12-piece act, EXO debuted under SM Entertainment in April 2012. Chinese members Kris, Tao, and Luhan have left the group, while Lay left SM Entertainment in April 2022. 

EXO is known for songs “Growl,” “Monster,” “Love Shot,” Overdose,” and “Tempo.” 

Featured image: EXO’s Facebook

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K-POP ARTISTS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

BLACKPINK’s Hanoi Concert: Controversy and Clarifications

The upcoming BLACKPINK concert in Hanoi, part of their Born Pink world tour, has been caught in controversies. Vietnamese authorities are investigating the promoter’s website over a disputed South China Sea map. At the same time, YG Entertainment, the South Korean agency that manages BLACKPINK, has denied the authenticity of a leaked set list for the concert.

The Vietnamese culture ministry has ordered an inspection of the concert promoter’s website after fans noticed it featured a map of the South China Sea with disputed boundaries. This controversy follows Hanoi’s recent decision to ban Hollywood’s Barbie film over a scene allegedly featuring the “nine-dash line” used in Chinese maps to illustrate Beijing’s claims over some areas of the South China Sea, including swathes of what Vietnam considers its continental shelf.

Although BLACKPINK’s agency hasn’t commented on the issue, the organizer has apologized for publishing the controversial map. According to  Vietnam National Television VTV and the VnExpress news website, Brian Chow, chief executive of iMe Entertainment, promised the company would remove the map. The organizer’s website is no longer accessible, but a cached version showed a faint line encompassing the South China Sea. Vietnam and China have always had overlapping territorial claims to a potentially energy-rich stretch of the waterway. Hanoi has repeatedly accused Chinese vessels of violating Vietnamese sovereignty.

This incident has sparked outrage among Vietnamese fans. Some are even thinking about boycotting the concert. A fan named Tu Anh Xinh wrote on Facebook, “Bought two tickets for me and my date. Then I saw the cow-tongue and quit. I am a patriot.” (“Cow-tongue” is a Vietnamese phrase used to describe the U-shaped line.”)

In a separate issue, YG Entertainment has refuted claims about a leaked setlist for the concert. The alleged setlist, which featured only 14 tracks, had been circulating online and received criticism from netizens due to the high ticket prices.

A representative from YG Entertainment stated, “The set list of BLACKPINK’s Vietnamese concert circulating online is not true. We will proceed as usual with the normal tour procedures.”

The alleged set list had caused disappointment among fans who were expecting a more extensive lineup of songs from the world-renowned K-pop group. The ticket prices, which ballooned to almost 540,000 won (414 USD), added to fans’ discontent. But YG Entertainment’s words put to rest any concerns over the setlist.

BLACKPINK is a cornerstone of South Korea’s multi-billion dollar K-pop industry. The world-famous girl group is due to perform in Vietnam for the first time on July 29 and 30, having been granted a license that requested the organizer to comply with the government’s regulations on all performing activities.

Despite the issues, the excitement for BLACKPINK’s debut performance in Vietnam remains high. The group’s dynamic performances and immense popularity are expected to draw a big crowd. Fans are excited for the Hanoi stop of the Born Pink world tour. They hope all the issues will be resolved soon so the event will proceed as planned.

Featured Image: BLACKPINK poses for a photo with the crowd at the Sydney, Australia stop of the BORN PINK tour. Source: Twitter/BLACKPINK’s official Twitter account

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KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

Hybe Apologizes After Drawing Flak for Inappropriate Body Search at &Team’s Fan Meeting

HYBE has issued a formal apology following allegations of sexual harassment against their security staff during a recent fan signing event of group &TEAM. 

On Saturday, July 8, &TEAM, a boy group under HYBE LABELS JAPAN, held an in-person fan signing event in Seoul. 

However, several fans took to social media to complain about their alleged invasive encounter with the event’s security staff, with the hashtag “underwear search” quickly trending in South Korea. 

According to the attendees, instead of using a metal detector to search for electronic devices, the security staff allegedly ushered them to a small area instead and told them to lift their shirts so they could touch the fan’s breasts. 

Some attendees also noted that when they were being searched, other staff also entered the room and observed the process. Others also wrote that the staff members didn’t even apologize to them even when they found nothing incriminating on the fans. 

Following the online backlash, HYBE Labels issued a statement on late Sunday, July 9, via WeVerse shop. 

The agency started by explaining that in events such as fan signing, it’s important to prevent any unauthorized recordings from being leaked, as this could have negative consequences for both the fans and the artists. That’s why they’ve set-up strict regulations regarding the prohibition of electronic devices capable of recording. 

However, they’ve encountered several fans who don’t adhere to these rules by hiding electronic equipment on their bodies. HYBE explained that this is why several female security guards carried body checks to the fans who attended the July 8 event. 

“We apologize to the fans who attended the event with happy hearts for making you uncomfortable,” the agency said, according to a translation by Soompi. 

“Even if it was a security issue, we are aware that it is not an acceptable excuse for making fans uncomfortable. We sincerely apologize that this kind of incident happened at the event.”

HYBE then promised that they will develop plans for improvements, including the implementation of contact-free methods for security checks. 

Composed of EJ, Nicholas, K, Fuma, Yuma, Jo, Harua, Taki and Maki, &TEAM is HYBE’s first Japanese boy band. They debuted in September 2022, and released their second EP First Howling: WE in June. 

Members EJ, Nicholas, K, and Taki previously participated in the survival series I-LAND, which formed the group ENHYPEN.

Featured image: &TEAM’s Twitter

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KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

Solar and Moon Byul’s Subunit Confirms Comeback; Mamamoo to Release Concert Film

MOOMOOs have a lot of things to look forward to as K-pop girl group MAMAMOO will be releasing a documentary film and Solar and Moon Byul’s subunit will be making their comeback! 

MAMAMOO announced that their upcoming documentary film MAMAMOO: MY CON THE MOVIE will be available in cinemas worldwide on August 9 and 12 only. Tickets for the screening will be available starting July 14. 

 

MAMAMOO: MY CON THE MOVIE follows the group’s first world tour, which had stops in Seoul, Japan, Hong Kong, and the United States, among others. It will include exclusive never-before-seen footage and interviews with members Solar, Moon Byul, Whee In, and Hwa Sa. 

“Witness their captivating vocals and dynamic performances, then delve into their personal and heartfelt stories like never before, offering a rare glimpse behind the scenes,” the film’s description read, according to its website. 

Meanwhile, MAMAMOO+, the subunit consisting of Solar and Moon Byul, is gearing up for a comeback. 

Agency RBW confirmed the news, saying that the duo is releasing a new album in August. 

“Following their previous album ACT 1, SCENE 1, the members are once again actively participating in the planning and production of the new album to showcase the wide spectrum of MAMAMOO+,” the label said, according to a Soompi report. 

Additional details about MAMAMOO+’s new release have yet to be announced. 

MAMAMOO+, the first subunit of MAMAMOO, made their unit debut in August 2022 with the single “Better.”  

 

In March, they also released their first single album ACT 1, SCENE 1. 

Featured image: MAMAMOO’s Facebook

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