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WINNER’s Kang Seung Yoon Reveals June Military Enlistment Date

Kang Seung Yoon is getting ready for his mandatory military service. The WINNER leader has confirmed his military enlistment date is set for June this year.

YG Entertainment Announces Kang Seung Yoon’s Military Enlistment Date

YG Entertainment released a statement regarding Kang Seung Yoon’s upcoming military enlistment.

“Kang Seung Yoon will be enlisting on June 20 to receive basic military training and is expected to serve as an active duty soldier in the army,” the statement read.

“Respecting Kang Seung Yoon’s wish to enlist quietly, the time and location of his enlistment will remain confidential, and there will be no separate events on the day. We kindly ask for your understanding,” it continued.

“We would like to ask for your warm encouragement and love until the day Kang Seung Yoon fulfills his duty of national defense and returns in good health,” the statement added. “Our agency will also continue to fully support and show love for Kang Seung Yoon as well as the other WINNER members.”

Yoon will be the fourth and final member of WINNER to enlist for mandatory military service. Fellow member Mino also began his military enlistment as a social service agent on March 24, 2023.

In 2013, Seungyoon, Jinu, Hoony, Mino, and former member Taehyun competed as Team A in the Mnet survival program “Win: Who Is Next”. They were dubbed WINNER after winning the program. They officially debuted in August 2014 with the lead singles “Empty” and “Color Ring”.

In addition to being an idol, Yoon also ventured into acting. He appeared in the web series “We Broke Up” alongside former 2NE1 member Sandara Park. Yoon would also go on to star in “The Producers”, “Prison Playbook”, “Tomorrow”, and “Kairos”. He currently serves as a mentor on the MBC reality competition show “Fantasy Boys”.

Kang Seung Yoon will begin his mandatory military enlistment on June 20, 2023.

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Shotaro Pens Heartfelt Letter To Assure Fans After NCT Exit

Shotaro has broken his silence following his departure from NCT. The Japanese idol wrote a heartfelt letter addressed to fans assuring him about his future.

SM Entertainment previously issued a statement regarding Sungchan and Shotaro’s status in NCT. The company revealed that the idols, who joined the group in 2020, will join a new group within the agency. This is a new development considering that the two were expected to join the next NCT unit.

Shotaro Thanks Fans For Support Since NCT Departure

Nevertheless, Shotaro is already looking toward the future. The former NCT member took to his Instagram account to share a handwritten letter. It is addressed to fans who have been concerned about Shotaro’s career.

“First of all, I wanted to thank all the fans for cheering me on thus far,” he wrote. “What gave me the biggest strength while promoting as NCT was the existence of you, the fans, itself.”

“I was so happy, because you always gave me love and support for all my activities, including the music programs, contents, and performances!”

“Thank you for having watched me promote with such a warm gaze!” Shotaro added. “And, I want to let you know that I thank all my (NCT) members for treasuring me like family ever since I entered the group.”

“I respect the members who showed their best sides when working and in general, and I am so honored and grateful that I was able to promote in such a precious team as NCT.”

 

He continued, “I think I have gained the energy to become an artist in front of you all after learning so much from the NCT promotions. I will try my best.”

Shotaro added, “I will return ‘soon’ with even better sides of me, so please wait just a little bit more!!”

Sungchan Posts Final Update on NCT Bubble

Sungchan also shared a letter on NCT’s fan platform bubble.

“It was a tremendous honor to be with you for these three happy years and I consider it a precious memory. I sincerely thank my members and fans who gifted my lacking self so many memories,” he wrote.

“In the future, I will do my best and seek you out with a good image. Thank you always and I love you!” Sungchan concluded.

Sungchan and Shotaro will debut in a new boy group with SM Rookies Eunseok and Seunghan. The new group will also feature other members of Korean and American nationalities.

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BTS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

BTS’ Suga Shares Surprising Retirement Plans

Suga is already thinking about retirement

Suga is already thinking about retirement. The “Haegeum” rapper opened up about the possibility of retiring from BTS. Interestingly, Min Yoongi has a clear plan for what to do with the rest of his life.

Suga Discusses BTS’ Possible Retirement

Suga recently completed the U.S. leg of his SUGA Agust D Tour and he held a small fan meeting in Seoul on May 21, 2023. During the “Agust D D-DAY: Movie Night”, the rapper spent some time with his fans and discussed several topics.

An interesting topic that came up was retirement. Suga addressed the possibility of performing with BTS for at least another 30 years.

“I envision myself performing until my 60s,” he revealed.

As expected, fans were hoping that Suga will be with BTS for even longer than that. ARMYs began chanting “Please grace the stage till your final moments.”

In response, Min Yoongi retorted, “Let me rest a little bit before I die though. I don’t think I’ll be able to even hold a mic at that age!”

There is little doubt that retirement is not in Suga’s immediate plans and it’s great to know that he will be performing with BTS for a long time.

In the meantime, Suga is getting ready for the Asian leg of his ongoing world tour. The “Daechwita” rapper is heading for Japan in early June and the tour will have several stops at many Asian cities.

In related news, BTS is releasing their own book this summer. “Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS” was announced earlier this month. The book will be written by journalist Kang Myeongseok and the seven members of the group.

“Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS” will be structured as “an oral history of” the group’s story. Anton Hur is responsible for the English translation, in collaboration with Clare Richards and Slin Jung. The book will be released on July 9, 2023.

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NewJeans Confirmed for July Comeback

NewJeans will be returning with new music this summer. A representative for the girl group’s agency has confirmed that Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein are preparing for a comeback in July.

ADOR Confirms NewJeans’ Summer Comeback Set For July

News1 reported that NewJeans will be releasing a pre-release song on July 7, 2023. The outlet also revealed that the girl group will release a new album later in the same month.

Since then, a representative for NewJeans’ agency ADOR has addressed the reports. “It is true that NewJeans is preparing for a July comeback. We will inform you once the schedule is confirmed,” the source said.

This is great news considering that fans have been waiting for a New Jeans comeback for some time now. It also means the girl group will be releasing yet another catchy summer track this year.

New Jeans dropped their debut single “Attention” in July 2022. It was soon followed by “Hype Boy”, which became the longest-running song on the Billboard Global 200 by a K-pop female act. It also charted for 35 weeks, becoming NewJeans’ first global hit.

New Jeans’ latest album is the single album ‘OMG’ released in January 2023. It became their first album to sell over one million copies while the title track of the same name also went viral on TikTok.

In related news, Danielle has been confirmed to play Ariel in the Korean dubbed version of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid”. The NewJeans member has just unveiled her own rendition of the classic song “Part of Your World” as part of the remake’s promotions.

The details on NewJeans’ July comeback have not yet been revealed but the new release comes at the perfect time later this year. Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein have been confirmed to perform at the Lollapalooza and Summer Sonic Festival in August 2023.

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BTS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

BTS’ J-Hope Shares Update After Basic Military Training Graduation

J-Hope has finally graduated from basic military training. The BTS rapper celebrated the milestone with new photos he shared on Weverse and Instagram.

J-Hope Graduates From Basic Military Training In Awesome New Photos

J-Hope shared the new images on Weverse and Instagram. He also confirmed his graduation in the caption.

“ARMYs !!! I finished it well,” he wrote. “I was able to complete training well because the letters of support you sent me were very helpful!!!“

“I will do my best for the rest of my military service and show you my best! I love you!!” J-Hope then added, “The cell phone is fascinating…”

J-Hope underwent five weeks of basic military training at the recruit training center of the 36th Infantry Division in April. He then attended the completion ceremony and is now awaiting his station at a military base.

In related news, BIGHIT MUSIC previously asked fans to refrain from sending letters and gifts to J-Hope during his basic military training.

“Please refrain from sending letters and gifts even after he has finished his military recruit training and gets stationed at his military base,” the statement read.

“If a large number of letters and gifts from the fans arrive at the center all at once, it would be difficult to store them and they could be easily lost,” it continues. “We ask that you please refrain from sending anything by mail.”

The statement adds, “BIGHIT MUSIC will assist in making sure that J-Hope is able to personally see any kind and warm messages fans leave on Weverse using the hashtag #Dear_j-hope_from_ARMY.”

J-Hope confirmed his enlistment early last month and began his basic military training on April 18, 2023. He is the second member of BTS to enlist for mandatory military service after Jin in December 2022. Jung Hoseok is expected to be discharged on October 17, 2024.

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BIGHIT MUSIC Asks ARMYs To Refrain From Sending Letters to J-Hope During Military Enlistment

BIGHIT MUSIC is asking fans to refrain from sending too many letters and gifts to J-Hope during his military service. The agency issued a statement regarding the excess number of presents being sent to the BTS member.

BIGHIT MUSIC Issues Statement Regarding ARMYs’ Gifts and Letters To J-Hope

BIGHIT MUSIC released a statement about ARMYs trying to reach out to J-Hope while he is at training camp. The statement informs fans of the guidelines on how to continue sending the BTS rapper their warm messages so he can personally see them.

“Please refrain from sending letters and gifts even after he has finished his military recruit training and gets stationed at his military base,” the statement read.

“If a large number of letters and gifts from the fans arrive at the center all at once, it would be difficult to store them and they could be easily lost,” it continues. “We ask that you please refrain from sending anything by mail.”

The statement adds, “BIGHIT MUSIC will assist in making sure that J-Hope is able to personally see any kind and warm messages fans leave on Weverse using the hashtag #Dear_j-hope_from_ARMY.”

Additionally, the statement shared guidelines for J-Hope’s recruit training graduation ceremony.

 

“In order to prevent any issues that might occur from crowding, we ask fans to please refrain from visiting the site,” it reads. “Instead, we ask you to keep your heartwarming words of support and farewell in your hearts.”

J-Hope began his military enlistment on April 18, 2023. He was the second member of BTS to enlist for mandatory military service after Jin enlisted in December 2022. Since the two were assigned to different training camps, Kim Seokjin found alternative ways to reach Jung Hoseok.

Earlier this month, Jin left a comment under a fan’s Weverse post. The comment was a message for J-Hope asking how his basic training has been going.

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SM Entertainment Announces New NCT Unit, SM Rookies Debut, and Upcoming Girl Group

SM Entertainment has revealed their plans for their upcoming groups. The company announced a new NCT unit and the debut of several SM Rookies. In addition to that, the agency confirmed a new girl group will be debuting this year.

SM Entertainment Shares Plans For New IP in 2023

The official SMTown YouTube channel uploaded a new video titled “SM 3.0: NEW IP 2023”. In the video, SM Entertainment CEO Jang Cheol Hyuk discusses the launch of a new IP this year.

Jang Cheol-hyuk revealed that NCT’s next subunit will be the final part of the group’s ongoing expansion. The new subunit will feature more Japanese members and two SM Rookies will be joining the unit. The other new members of the subunit will be chosen through a pre-debut reality show.

It was also confirmed that Shohei will not be joining the new NCT subunit due to health reasons. Shohei was previously revealed as part of SM Rookies. He will carry out individual activities instead.

Jang Cheol Hyuk also confirmed that former NCT members Sungchan and Shotaro will debut in a new boy group with SM Rookies Eunseok and Seunghan. The new group will also feature other members of Korean and American nationalities.

SM Entertainment had previously announced that Sungchan and Shotaro are leaving NCT to promote as members of a new boy group.

“As NCT members, SUNGCHAN and SHOTARO have presented wondrous performances,” the statement read.

“However, they will be closing their chapter with NCT and debuting in a new boy group that will launch in 2023,” it continued. “We express our deepest apologies and appreciation for the fans that have been supporting and eagerly waiting for the to debut as part of the new NCT group.”

Jung Sungchan and Osaki Shotaro debuted as part of NCT in October 2020 and were initially slated to join its next subunit.

The third announcement confirmed that a new girl group will debut later this year. Details about the new group were not provided. Stay tuned for more updates on this story.

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Sungchan and Shotaro Leaving NCT For New Boy Group

Sungchan and Shotaro are moving to a new group. SM Entertainment officially announced that the two newest members of NCT are leaving to promote as part of the agency’s upcoming group.

Sungchan And Shotaro Officially Leaving NCT For New SM Entertainment Boy Group

SM Entertainment issued a statement regarding Sungchan and Shotaro’s status in NCT. The company revealed that the idols, who joined the group in 2020, will join a new group. This is a new development considering that the two were expected to join the next NCT unit.

“As NCT members, SUNGCHAN and SHOTARO have presented wondrous performances,” the statement read.

“However, they will be closing their chapter with NCT and debuting in a new boy group that will launch in 2023,” it continued. “We express our deepest apologies and appreciation for the fans that have been supporting and eagerly waiting for the to debut as part of the new NCT group.”

The statement also revealed new details about the next NCT subunit.

“NCT’s newest group will become the final group to be a part of NCT’s infinite expansion, so we aim to launch one with a distinct worldview that is truly representative of a regional identity,” it read. “In alignment with this, we will be increasing the number of Japanese members, unveiling new members and sharing their debut journey with the fans.”

Jung Sungchan and Osaki Shotaro debuted as part of NCT on October 12, 2020. They were featured as part of the group project NCT 2020 and participated in the album ‘NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1’. SM Entertainment initially planned for the two idols to become a part of a new NCT unit.

Sungchan and Shotaro’s departure comes shortly after Lucas’ exit from NCT. Earlier this month, Lucas Wong decided to leave NCT and the subunit WayV. Lucas will pursue a career as a solo artist represented by SM Entertainment.

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Shownu Hypes Up MONSTA X Subunit With Hyungwon

Shownu is getting ready for his first major project since his military discharge. The MONSTA X leader is hyping up the group’s first subunit with fellow member Hyungwon. In addition to that, Son Hyunwoo shared his thoughts on seeing his fellow members doing promotions during his military service.

Shownu Shares Details On First MONSTA X Subunit With Hyungwon

Vogue Korea recently unveiled photos from Shownu’s latest photoshoot for the magazine. In the accompanying interview, the MONSTA X main dancer discussed the plans for the group’s first subunit. Shownu revealed that Hyungwon has already written songs for the new group unit.

“They’re all good. When I ask for song recommendations, he sends them through KakaoTalk and he mainly listens to songs he could’ve written. Good and modern music,” he said.

He also confirmed that he and Hyungwon have a great bond that will make their new subunit work well.

“What’s great about when I’m with Hyungwon is that I’m comfortable. The reason we hang out often is just because it’s comfortable,” Shownu said. “We don’t speak much and don’t bother each other.”

“Good synergy can be created when you’re uncomfortable, but since we have a comfortable relationship I’m not sure what kind of chemistry will come out,” he said.

“We’re both not the greedy type and have similar body types. I have a desire to showcase good performances and visuals but nothing’s been decided yet,” Shownu added.

Shownu Opens Up About Watching MONSTA X Perform Without Him

The still-unnamed subunit will be Shownu’s first major project since his return from military service. However, he admitted that he also enjoyed seeing the other MONSTA X members’ promotions while he was serving the country.

“I was curious about their performance and my members’ conditions but it was all incredibly cool,” Shownu said. “Since I know that the first week [of promotions] is the hardest, I watched while assuming they were exhausted but also thinking ‘this is interesting!‘”

He then added that being able to watch his fellow members from afar was refreshing.

“I did slightly miss the anticipation of preparing an album from the perspective of a singer but it was fun watching from the perspective of a fan,” he said.

The first MONSTA X subunit with Shownu and Hyungwon is expected to debut in the Summer of 2023.

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SULLI Short Film ‘Persona 2’ To Be Released on Netflix

The story of the late SULLI is coming soon to a major streaming giant. Netflix has confirmed that the short film “Persona 2” which focused on the late idol will stream on the service.

SULLI’s Short Film ‘Persona 2’ Added To Netflix Brazil Catalogue

A recent social media post revealed that “Persona: Sulli”, also referred to as “Persona 2”, was added to Netflix Brazil’s catalogue. The short film is reportedly scheduled to premiere on June 16, 2023.

Since then, fans have expressed excitement about the film. The project is SULLI’s final work before her unexpected passing in 2019. Originally intended to be a five-part series, SULLI was only able to shoot the first two episodes before her death in October 2019.

So is it true that “Persona 2” will air on Netflix? The source from the streaming service issued a statement regarding the film.

“‘Persona: Sulli’ is a project produced by Mystic Story,” they said. “Currently, general discussion is underway including on whether to stream [the film] on Netflix along with the final release date.”

“Persona 2” is the sequel to the successful 2019 anthology series starring South Korean superstar and SULLI’s friend IU. The original series featured four different stories with Lee Ji-eun in the lead.

The sequel was intended to have five episodes. However, Mystic Story decided to suspend filming after SULLI’s passing. She was only able to film two episodes of the series by the time of her death.

SULLI made her debut as a child actress in the 2005 series “Ballad of Seodong”. After signing a record deal with SM Entertainment, she debuted in the girl group f(x) in 2009. Despite her success in film and music, Choi Jin-ri suffered from health issues leading to her departure from f(x) in 2015.

In June 2019, SULLI released her solo debut single “Goblin”. It would become her last musical project prior to her passing.

On October 14, 2019, SULLI’s brother found her dead in her house in Seongnam. The “Real” actress had reportedly committed suicide by hanging herself. She was 25 years old.

“Persona: Sulli” aka “Persona 2” has not yet been officially announced by Netflix. Stay tuned for more updates on this story.

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